<p>Ds2 is scheduled to have his braces removed tomorrow. The ortho said that he likely would file down a couple of teeth to get a nicer line. Dh has qualms about this, worrying that it will somehow affect the enamel or integrity of the tooth. Any thoughts/experiences?</p>
<p>The main tooth in question is a canine that’s particularly pointy at the bottom. I think filing at the bottom definitely would approve the appearance.</p>
<p>Ask the dentist…one would think if he is recommending this procedure, he knows what he’s doing. My kiddo had her canines pulled when she had her ortho done.</p>
<p>Both my sons had a bit of filing done after their braces came off. The orthodontist assured me that the teeth would not be damaged in any way. Eight and five years later, respectively, there have been no problems.</p>
<p>Ask your regular dentist about this. Yes, the orthodontist should know what he is doing, but if he’s been concentrating on cosmetic procedures for a while he might have lost touch a bit with structural issues.</p>
<p>Personally, I’d vote with your husband on this. Filing can always be done later.</p>
<p>My three kids had braces and I had Invisalign. We all had a bit of filing done at the end and no problems. In my case, it actually made a big difference. With great trepidation I even let the orthodontist file away a bit between my two front teeth to make them look a bit narrower and thus longer. If you have a good orthodontist you should be okay.</p>
<p>Just got back.</p>
<p>Interestingly, he didn’t file the tooth I thought he would. He was going to let ds go, but then I mentioned that at the last visit he talked about filing so he took another look. I specifically mentioned the “fangy” canine, but he said he liked it just fine and that he could always file at the 12-week checkup, when the teeth have had a chance to “settle.” I liked that conservative, wait-and-see approach. But he did decide to lightly file the two front teeth to eliminate the bottom bumpiness/ridges.</p>
<p>I just finished Invisalign (although I’m now in a retainer). Once my teeth were straight the uneven wear on my bottom teeth really showed up. So I had some bonding done to the teeth that were more worn down and chipped and filing done to one tooth to round the edges. So now my teeth are straight and even and look great.</p>
<p>Thirty-six years ago when I had my braces removed, the points of my canines were filed off. Have never had any problem at all associated with having it done.</p>