Adverse Effects of Interproximal Reduction

Interproximal reduction is usually associated with slightly overcrowded teeth and is used for patients who are not willing to have teeth extracted. Though by not removing teeth there is no room for tooth movement so what options are there? This is where interproximal reduction is used to create gaps between the teeth to allow for teeth movement.

How is interproximal reduction done?

Interproximal reduction is done by using a flexible diamond-coated strips that are worked back and forth between the teeth like a nail file, then a very small part of the thickness of a tooth's enamel is trimmed where space is needed for orthodontic realignment.

Any adverse affects of interproximal reduction?

Interproximal reduction does not harm the teeth and only a small amount of enamel is removed from the surface of the teeth and there are no nerve endings on the surface of the teeth so there is generally no discomfort. After interproximal reduction the dentist will polish the teeth and patients have to pay extra care to dental hygiene to prevent cavities. The prodcudre itself will not cause damage to the gums but if the gums were inflamed to begin with then a little bit of bleeding is normal so need to worry.

Special care required after interproximal reduction?  

After interproximal reduction patients need to brush their teeth 3 times a day with fluoride toothpaste and after each meal they must rinse their mouth then floss. Also must return for appointment regularly with the dentist for a check-up.

Note: Interproximal reduction reduces the risk of dental root resorption, which can help patients with black triangles. But where teeth a seriously overcrowded, interproximal reduction is not an option.

Pain Associated With Interproximal Reduction

Interproximal reduction is generally used to create space between teeth and prevent extraction of teeth for orthodontic treatment. The thought of interproximal reduction is quite nerve wracking, however it is just shaving a small amount of enamel from between the teeth. Though after the procedure some patients have expressed that they feel discomfort and tooth sensitivity, is this related to interproximal reduction?

The shaving of the enamel is restricted to the surface of the enamel layer, there are no nerves present on the enamel layer, therefore patients should not feel any pain during the interproximal reduction, general anesthetic is not required. In most cases, interproximal reduction is limited to 0.2mm – 0.5mm which is considered safe and will not do any harm to the teeth.  

Feeling Pain After Interproximal Reduction is Normal?

Interproximal reduction only involves removing enamel from the enamel layer and there is still quite a distance from the dentin. But you may still feel sensitivity to hot or cold and also some pain this is all considered normal. If you feel these symptoms on the long term then you need to make an appointment with your dentist.

A lot of patients ask if the pain is due to removing too much enamel and has caused damage to the dentin. The answer is this is not always the case as it’s only the surface enamel which has been removed and will not have got as deep to the dentin. There is also no need to file down to the dentin and usually after a interproximal reduction a scale and polish is done to make the teeth smoother and resistant to cavities.

Other things to look out for after interproximal reduction is bleeding gums, infection, swelling and bleeding, these are all considered normal. This means gum are not health and it require attention and treatment. Another issue to take into account is that interproximal reduction is only suitable for teeth that are slightly overcrowded, if teeth are very overcrowded then teeth will have to be extracted.