Have you ever been concerned that your canine teeth might in fact be a little too canine? Their pointed nature is somewhat logical when you consider that one of their primary functions is to tear food in order to make it more chewable. While they serve an undeniably pivotal role when it comes to the consumption of food, some sets of canine teeth might look more prominent than others. The animalistic name of these particular teeth is almost besides the point, and yet you might not like having canine teeth that appear to be so long and sharp. It's certainly possible to reduce the severity of appearance of canine teeth, and this is actually a fairly straightforward aspect of cosmetic dentistry.
One of Two Options
Your dentist will generally suggest one of two options—an actual physical alteration to the teeth in question, or a permanent form of concealment that disguises the canine teeth. In order to determine the best course of action to achieve the desired result, your dentist will generally need to take a detailed look at the interior of your canine teeth with an x-ray. This helps them to check the precise location of your dental pulp—the nerve inside each tooth. Any physical alterations to the teeth will need to ensure that this dental pulp isn't exposed, as this can result in discomfort and can potentially increase the risk of tooth degradation, hence the need for the x-ray.
Enameloplasty
Your dentist might simply opt to file down your teeth (this is the physical alteration option), provided the position of your dental pulp permits this. This process is known as enameloplasty, and involves the dentist using a precision sanding tool (and in some cases, a laser) to file away a small amount of tooth in order to create the desired shape. It shouldn't hurt, since you don't actually have any nerves on the outside of your teeth. But still, the friction involved can create some minor discomfort. Ask your dentist about the possibility of an anesthetic if you're hesitant about the procedure.
Veneers
If the positioning of your pulp makes enameloplasty problematic, your dentist might suggest veneers to be adhered to the canine teeth. These are wafer-thin pieces of porcelain that are specially fabricated for you and permanently bonded to the canine teeth, giving them a more rounded appearance.
Changing the look of your canine teeth isn't a particularly complicated process, so have a word with your dentist about your available options.
Share12 March 2018
Hi! My name is Sarah, and as a busy professional, I understand the importance of making the most of my time. That includes everything from having productive working lunches to making the most of my dental checkups. I have created this blog to help you maximise your dental checkups. In these posts, you can learn how to prepare for your checkup, which questions to ask during your checkup and more. I am also going to have posts explaining why checkups are critical to your dental health as well as the health of your entire body. Happy reading, and thanks for visiting my blog!
