We all have things about our smiles that we don’t quite like – gaps, crookedness, or even some long, pointy canines (the teeth that can resemble vampire fangs). At my dental office in Little Falls, we can advise you on the best ways to fix all of your dental problems, but in the spirit of the season, we’re going to dedicate this blog to educating you on how your pointy “vampire” teeth can be transformed.

Your canine teeth are found on the top and bottom arches of your mouth and are the ones that look most like dogs’ teeth. The purpose of the canines is to hold, grasp, and tear food. While it’s normal for this type of tooth to have a pointy tip, there are some canines that appear much pointier.

While there is nothing wrong with having a little extra pointiness in your teeth, patients often tell us that they’re self-conscious or get made fun of for their teeth’s fang-like appearance. There is actually a simple and inexpensive option your dentist in Little Falls can offer to make your canines look more consistent with the rest of your smile and, yes, less pointy.

Tooth reshaping, also known as tooth recontouring, is a treatment that can quickly and easily transform the shape, length, or surface of teeth. This cosmetic dentistry procedure is usually painless since only a small amount of surface enamel is removed to change the shape of the tooth. The tooth reshaping process requires an artistic eye as your dentist will use a sanding instrument to sculpt and whittle away any imperfections to create a brand new tooth shape. This treatment can also be paired with bonding, which uses tooth-colored material to sculpt and reshape a tooth.

Both bonding and tooth recontouring are conservative dental techniques that can successfully transform and improve the appearance of your smile. In addition, not only can they create an entirely new tooth shape, they can also improve the overall health of your mouth. By removing any areas in which plaque and bacteria can thrive, your chance for decay and gum disease is greatly decreased.

If you think tooth reshaping or dental bonding is the right treatment for you, or if you have minor imperfections in your smile that you’d like to have fixed, give my Little Falls dental office a call today. We’ll discuss your goals and the best treatment for you.

Serving patients in Little Falls, Totowa, and Monclair.