** Do they shave teeth for composite? Shaving or tooth grinding for composite** is usually done in order to correct irregularity, severe discoloration, coarseness or excessive thickness of tooth enamel, and includes removing a thin layer between 0.5 and 2 mm of tooth enamel so that the **composite tooth** materials adhere better; It is usually not painful and is accompanied by local anesthesia. Tooth grinding removes a small part of its structure and may cause temporary sensitivity, but if done correctly, it will not cause serious damage. After grinding, removing the composite may weaken the tooth, so it must be done carefully and the amount of grinding is determined by the dentist's examination. **Reasons and causes of tooth grinding for composite** To perform most types of dental composite, the tooth must be trimmed a little; But it is not suitable for every tooth. You need a tooth sharpener for the following reasons. ### **Tooth scraping for composite due to misalignment and crooked teeth** If your teeth are crooked or untidy and are not suitable for composite bonding, so that the composite material does not stick well on your teeth, in order to arrange and fix the crookedness of your teeth, a small amount of your tooth enamel must be shaved so that the tooth has enough fit to continue the process. ### **tooth scraping for composite due to color change and the presence of severe stains** Usually, due to various reasons and the consumption of colored food and acidic drinks, the color of the teeth changes in the long term, and depending on the type of maintenance and use of the teeth, this color change may be severe. If oral and dental hygiene is not observed, these colors will remain on the teeth and cause stains that cannot be removed by brushing and mouthwash. If even different teeth whitening methods such as tooth bleaching or tooth scaling cannot remove these stains, a small amount of tooth enamel must be shaved before doing the composite to remove these stains and stains so that you can do the composite. ### **tooth scraping for composites due to the coarseness and protrusion of the teeth** In some rare cases, people's teeth are large and protrude slightly from their jaws. In order to prepare these teeth for the composite, they must be trimmed to remove their coarseness and protrusion. If the intensity of this coarseness and protrusions is too much, the teeth should be orthodontic first. ### **tooth scraping for composite because of the thickness of tooth enamel** When the thickness of tooth enamel is high, in order to prevent the proper adhesion of composite materials on it, a suitable amount of it should be cut. If this thickness is more, in the case of installing a composite, its thickness will be doubled and practically the teeth will become a little bigger and protrude, which will completely destroy the beauty of your smile. ### **Tooth scraping for composite because of aligning and aligning the teeth** It is possible that before the composite, some of your teeth or a row of them are not neat and uniform, and for this reason, a small amount of the enamel of each of them is shaved until the entire row of teeth in the jaw is uniform. The more orderly and uniform the teeth in a row in your jaw are, the more beautiful the smile will be after composite. **Steps and method of shaving teeth for composite** Tooth scraping means removing a small amount of tooth enamel tissue using special tools such as a dental drill or handpiece. In order for the composite material to adhere better to the tooth surface, the dentist must shave 0.5 to 2 mm of tooth enamel. Of course, this is done using local anesthesia and without pain. 1. Checking and determining the amount of tooth grinding based on the condition of the teeth. 2. Shaving a thin layer (between 0.5 and 2 mm) of tooth enamel to prepare the tooth surface. 3. Acid washing (etching) of the tooth surface with phosphoric acid gel for 15 to 30 seconds to create a rough surface and improve adhesion. 4. Washing and drying the teeth to prepare for placing the composite. 5. Composite layering and shaping. 6. Polishing and polishing the composite surface to create a natural and shiny appearance. ** Disadvantages and complications of tooth grinding for composite ** - Removal of a part of tooth structure and enamel. - Weakening and sensitivity of teeth to cold and heat. - Irreversibility of tooth grinding after composite. - Possible risk of tooth decay and tooth infection under the composite. - Weakening of the tooth root due to the loss of part of its structure. - Possibility of tooth fracture due to tooth enamel damage. **Frequently Asked Questions** ### **What is the amount of tooth shaving for composite?** The amount of tooth shaving for composite is usually very small and insignificant, about 0.5 to 2 mm, that only a thin layer of tooth enamel is removed, and it is much less than ** dental laminate **. Of course, the dentist determines how much this amount should be after examining the teeth. ### **Which teeth are trimmed for composite?** Usually, the teeth that need minor appearance correction such as irregularity, crookedness or severe color change and coarseness or have few problems are trimmed. But in many cases, composite is done without cutting or with very little cutting. ### **Is it possible to remove the composite after shaving the teeth?** After shaving the tooth, if needed, the composite can be removed and the tooth repaired and the composite can be placed again. But usually, due to the shaving of tooth enamel, you should not remove the composite, because the tooth is slightly weakened and if removed, there is a possibility of damaging it. ### **Does it hurt to shave teeth for composite?** Shaving teeth for composites is generally not painful and usually does not require anesthesia; Because the cutting rate is low. In cases where there is a lot of cutting or sensitive people, the dentist may use anesthesia. The pain after shaving is usually small and temporary, and if there is severe pain, you should see a dentist. ### **Does shaving the tooth for composite damage it?** Shaving teeth for composite does not cause serious damage to teeth; But removing a layer of tooth enamel can cause temporary sensitivity. If it is done correctly, it will not cause serious damage to the tooth structure, but if it is done incorrectly, it may cause sensitivity, weakening of the structure and in rare cases, infection.