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Dental Stripping: Everything to Know Before Reshaping Your Teeth
Are you self-conscious about teeth that are too long, misaligned, or asymmetrical? Stripping, also known as dental reshaping or interproximal reduction (IPR), is a technique that involves slightly filing the teeth to harmonize their shape and size.
Here's a closer look at this increasingly popular cosmetic procedure, its advantages, risks, and cost.
What Does Teeth Reshaping Involve?
Dental stripping aims to remove a thin layer of enamel (between 0.1 and 0.5 mm on average) from the sides of the teeth where they touch. This very precise grinding is performed by a dentist or orthodontist using specific tools:
- Diamond burs or discs for controlled filing.
- Hand-held files for finishing touches in hard-to-reach areas.
- Abrasive strips of different grits to polish the enamel after filing.
The procedure is generally painless because the enamel is not innervated. The amount of enamel removed depends on its thickness, previously checked by X-ray, and the desired effect. A maximum of 0.5 mm can be removed without risk.
What Are the Indications for Stripping?
Dental reshaping is used in various situations:
- Teeth that are too long (sometimes called "bunny teeth").
- Pointed, chipped, or broken teeth.
- Slightly crowded or misaligned teeth.
- Asymmetrically shaped or sized teeth.
- The presence of an unsightly black triangle between the incisors.
- Teeth worn down by bruxism (grinding).
- As a complement to orthodontic treatment to refine the result, especially with clear aligners.
Why Must Dental Reshaping Always Be Done by a Professional?
With the success of stripping, a disturbing trend is spreading on social media: influencers filming themselves filing their own teeth with a nail file! This practice is as ineffective as it is dangerous, as it damages the enamel and promotes the development of cavities.
Only a dentist can assess the amount of enamel that can be safely removed from the tooth. Excessive or improperly performed filing risks:
- Demineralizing and weakening the enamel.
- Making teeth ultra-sensitive.
- Reaching the dentin and pulp with deep filing.
- Creating angles conducive to plaque accumulation.
So forget the "DIY" option and entrust your teeth to a professional. It's not worth the risk!
A Closer Look at Teeth Reshaping Techniques
In a dental office, stripping can be performed in two ways, often combined:
- By mechanical action (burs, discs) for precise and highly localized grinding.
- By manual action (files, strips) for finishing touches and narrow areas.
In all cases, the practitioner follows a strict protocol to preserve the health of the teeth:
- Pre-operative assessment with X-rays to measure enamel thickness.
- Local anesthesia if needed to prevent any sensitivity.
- Progressive filing in small increments, with constant visual control.
- Careful polishing of the enamel surface after filing to make it smooth.
- Application of a remineralizing gel or fluoride varnish to strengthen the enamel.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Dental Stripping
In terms of benefits, dental reshaping has many advantages:
- Immediately visible aesthetic results.
- Improves the alignment and harmony of the smile without needing braces.
- Quick, minimally invasive, and virtually painless procedure.
- Can reduce the duration of orthodontic treatment by creating space between the teeth.
- Facilitates brushing and thus hygiene by eliminating overlaps.
- Erases signs of wear and restores a smooth appearance to damaged teeth.
Points to be aware of:
- Irreversible filing: once filed, the tooth will never regain its natural shape.
- Risk of temporary post-operative sensitivity to hot and cold.
- Excessive filing that goes beyond the enamel limits can weaken the tooth.
- Requires lifelong impeccable oral hygiene to protect the enamel.
What Is the Price of Teeth Reshaping?
The costs of dental filing depend on the extent of the corrections to be made and the number of teeth involved. On average, you should expect to pay between $100 and $300 per tooth.
This price range is indicative; each practitioner is free to set their own fees. Since it is a purely cosmetic procedure, stripping is not covered by dental insurance.
Our Post-Stripping Tips for Healthy Teeth
After reshaping, your teeth are more sensitive. Follow these rules to care for them and optimize the results:
- Use a fluoride toothpaste (with remineralizing properties) and a soft toothbrush.
- Be extra rigorous with brushing (twice a day for 2 minutes) and don't forget to floss!
- Avoid foods and drinks that are too hot, cold, sugary, or acidic as long as sensitivity persists.
- Consult your dentist at the slightest unusual sign: pain, change in color, new cavity...
- Have the condition of your filed teeth checked regularly to make sure everything is fine.
Is Stripping Right for You?
This dental reshaping technique offers numerous advantages for quickly and durably correcting minor flaws that spoil a smile. It's painless, requires no anesthesia, and does not alter the vitality of the teeth.
But be careful, filing has its limits. Its effect is slight and localized. For a more significant problem (severely misplaced teeth, deep malformations), wearing a dental appliance will often remain essential. Only a dentist can judge, on a case-by-case basis, the relevance of stripping.
FAQ: Your Questions About Teeth Reshaping Answered
What are the risks of stripping teeth?
If performed correctly, dental filing does not weaken the teeth or create long-term sensitivity. But excessive grinding that goes beyond the enamel layer can cause irreversible damage.
Why must you always go to a dentist to have your teeth reshaped?
Only a professional can accurately assess the amount of enamel that can be safely removed from the tooth. Moreover, they have the sterile equipment and skills necessary to perform this technical procedure under the best conditions.
Does dental stripping hurt?
No, filing the enamel is not painful in itself because this part of the tooth is not innervated. That's why anesthesia is not usually necessary, except in cases of particular sensitivity.
What happens during a teeth reshaping session?
After an evaluation to check the enamel thickness, the dentist proceeds with the filing in successive stages, first with a bur or disc, then with a file or increasingly fine abrasive strips. The tooth is then polished and covered with a remineralizing gel.