I got my braces off about a year ago, but had to get them put back on due to a faulty retainer that rotated one of my molars and made my bite open (unusual situation, I know). The molar is now almost in the correct position again, but the tooth is oddly shaped and larger than the molar on the other side, making the bite uneven. It's much better than it was before, but it's still not a closed bite.

My orthodontist filed the tooth down a little and it made the bite better, but more filing would need to be done before I get the braces off again, with actual equipment and not just a file. While I really want the braces to be off (mainly because my teeth are experiencing root resorption), I'm a little wary of letting my tooth be filed so much. This is the only thing preventing me from getting my braces off; my other teeth are perfectly aligned.

My questions are:
How much filing can a tooth undergo before it damages the enamel/tooth in general?
Also, is it possible that filing the tooth will impair my bite rather than correct it?
Would it be better to get the filing done by my orthodontist or my dentist?

Thanks in advance. :)

How much filing can a tooth undergo before it damages the enamel/tooth in general?Usually very minimal enamel is removed when "filing" a tooth (it just feels and sounds like a lot!) If too much enamel is removed you may experience some sensitivity to cold, bite, sweets and can try brushing with Sensodyne.


Also, is it possible that filing the tooth will impair my bite rather than correct it?
Would it be better to get the filing done by my orthodontist or my dentist?A well qualified orthodontist will do a good job at adjusting your bite since his specialty deals with not only the appearance of your teeth but also the function (how they all work together). You want to be sure that when you close your teeth together slowly that all of your teeth touch at the same time. If you feel that one side touches before the other then your bite is off and it needs to be corrected with an occlusal adjustment (filing). In normal circumstances this can be done by your dentist.

Thanks for the reply! You've answered my questions perfectly and I feel much calmer about going through with it now. :)