How to Fix Jagged Tooth?

Question

Somehow the front two teeth at the bottom are jagges/ chipped I guess and I want to know what to do or how much it costs to get them back to be smooth while getting braces?

Norman Huefner, DDS · Answer

Most of the time minor chipped edges of front teeth can be smoothed by your cosmetic dentist, either with small sandpaper disks or polishing diamonds.  And even better yet, that can be done WITHOUT any local anesthesia (novocaine).  This procedure is called "esthetic recontouring" and believe it or not, is probably one of the most under used cosmetic procedures in dentistry!
	Esthetic recontouring usually only takes minutes, so the fees the dentists will charge is usually just a reflection of how much time was necessary to do the procedure.
	When we do it in our practice we will generally take a black sharpie pen and mark on the tooth how we anticipate reshaping the teeth.  Then we give the patient a hand mirror to approve the contour that the dentist is recommending.  After getting agreement as to how much and where the esthetic recontouring will be done, I will use polishing diamonds or sandpaper disks and gently shape the teeth to the black line.
	An interesting thing often happens next, we call it the "next worst thing" syndrome.  The patient may only want a couple teeth reshaped, as you indicated.  However, after correcting "the worst chipped or worn teeth", the patient then often asks "What about this other tooth, over here.  Can you smooth that tooth too?"  So, you indicated you were only concerned with correcting the jagged edges of two lower teeth, however you might change your mind and want others done if they are chipped, worn or mishapped too.
	In our practice we find that we have many patients who come to us for porcelain veneers.  Of those, about one third have uneven or chipped lower teeth, so we treat them with cosmetic recontouring of the lower teeth and porcelain veneers on the upper teeth.  Another third of our porcelain veneer patients don't need any esthetic recontouring of their lower teeth at all, and the last third usually have such crooked or chipped lower teeth that porcelain veneers are placed on the lower teeth as well as the upper front teeth.

Robert Fields, DDS · Answer

Hi Gabriela There are inexpensive and easy solutions for chipped/jagged lower front teeth. Your dentist can either sand and polish the teeth and eliminate all of the jagged edges and chips. If this does not work, he can do bonding with resin which will cover and smooth the surface. Either procedure takes very little time, needs no anesthetic and should not cost a lot! Good luck!

Jay Neuhaus, DDS · Answer

Your dentist can do some minor cosmetic contouring on the edges to smooth them off at a very minimal fee.

German Arzate, DDS - Account Suspended · Answer

resin, can do this, it takes only 1 visit to do it, and the prices start from 60 dolars, and sometimes you do not require novocaine,this will make it smooth, and nice

How to Fix Jagged Tooth?

Answers (4)

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