Undergoing Gender Reassignment Surgery? Don't Forget About Your Teeth

The differences between male and female bodies are countless. There are plenty of obvious trait differences -- men are (on average) taller than women, have different reproductive organs and more body hair. But there are also more subtle differences between men and women's bodies, and one of those differences is the shape of their teeth. If you have undergone gender reassignment surgery or plan to in the future, read on to learn why it's time to call a cosmetic dentist.

Male And Female Teeth

So what are the differences between male and female teeth? Female teeth tend be more curved, softer in appearance, and less defined. In contrast, male teeth are generally larger and more square-shaped. 

If you identify with the opposite gender and have gone through or are considering gender reassignment surgery, you could be a lot happier with the results by altering the shape of your teeth to match your new gender. 

How Is The Procedure Done?

It's important to note that a male can be born with female-shaped teeth, a female can be born with male-shaped teeth, and any person can be born with both male and female-shaped teeth in the same mouth. Because of this fact, your first step is scheduling a consultation so your dentist can have a look at your teeth and decide whether or not altering their shape will provide cosmetic benefits to your gender reassignment goals.

If your dentist decides that your teeth could be shaped to more closely match your gender, there are a couple of different procedures that he or she may decide to perform.

Turning Feminine Teeth Masculine. To make feminine teeth appear more masculine, your dentist will likely bond them with a composite resin material. The material is formed in the desired shape over each tooth and then a special ultraviolet light is used to bond it directly to the tooth.

If any of the teeth you wish to reshape are damaged, then your dentist may instead choose to apply a veneer over the tooth. A veneer is a super-thin porcelain shell that fits over the entire tooth and is adhered in much the same manner as a dental bond.

As an added bonus, both dental bonds and porcelain veneers can cover dark spots and/or yellowing of the tooth enamel.

Turning Masculine Teeth Feminine. If you were born with masculine teeth and you now want to appear feminine, you can expect your dentist to recommend enameloplasty. During this procedure, your dentist will reshape your teeth by shaving them down with a special tool. The goal is to take off just enough enamel to soften highly-defined lines, thus making your teeth more contoured and feminine.

While enameloplasty does not hide staining like dental bonds and porcelain veneers, it can be combined with other whitening techniques to help make your new smile the brightest it can be.

How Long Do These Procedures Take?

The amount of time you'll need to spend at the dentist's office completely depends on the overall condition of your teeth and how many of your teeth need to undergo gender reassignment. With the rapid advancements in modern dentistry, though, most procedures can be done in under a few hours. 

If you're in the process of changing your gender identity, don't forget about your teeth. While the differences between male and female teeth are subtle, the shape of your teeth could play a big role in how happy you are with the totality of your gender transition. Contact a cosmetic dentist today to determine whether or not your transition to the opposite sex could benefit from tooth gender reassignment.