When you think about orthodontic treatment, braces or aligners are often the first things that come to mind. But sometimes, achieving the best smile isn’t just about moving teeth—it’s also about subtly giving them the best shape and ensuring they fit together in a healthy way. One common, conservative technique orthodontists use to fine-tune your smile is called Interproximal Reduction, or IPR.
What is IPR?
Interproximal reduction, often called IPR or “slenderizing,” is a common technique orthodontists use to help create space to align teeth, improve your bite, and refine your smile without removing teeth.
IPR is a simple procedure where your orthodontist gently polishes away very small amounts of enamel from the sides of selected teeth—usually the areas where teeth touch each other. Think of it as removing only a few sheets of paper’s thickness—fractions of a millimeter—to create just enough space for your teeth to align perfectly.
The process is quick, safe, and painless. Using fine diamond tools or polishing strips, your orthodontist reshapes the enamel surfaces so they remain smooth, natural, and easy to clean.
4 Reasons IPR May Be Recommended
There are several reasons your orthodontist might suggest IPR during your treatment:
1. To Create Space for Alignment
In cases of crowding, a small amount of IPR can provide just enough space for teeth to move into ideal positions—often avoiding the need to remove or extract teeth entirely. Removing only 0.25 millimeters of enamel from each side of several teeth can create up to 3 mm of total space—enough to make a meaningful difference.
2. To Improve the Fit of Your Bite
Teeth are similar to puzzle pieces. Your upper and lower teeth must match in size in order to fit together and function properly. If the proportions are off, this is called a Bolton discrepancy — a fancy term meaning the teeth do not fit together properly. IPR can help balance tooth sizes between arches, improving how the bite feels and functions. If some teeth are a little wider or narrower than ideal, IPR helps balance their proportions for a more harmonious and natural look. If some teeth are slightly wider or narrower than ideal, IPR can correct small tooth-size discrepancies so your smile looks more harmonious.
Tiny adjustments improve how upper and lower teeth fit together for better function and long-term stability.
3. To Eliminate “Dark Triangles”
Sometimes, when teeth are triangular shaped or tapered, small dark spaces appear near the gum line, even after straightening. IPR can reshape the sides or shoulders of teeth to bring them closer together so that the gums fill in these gaps, creating a more even, esthetic smile.
4. To Enhance Long-Term Stability
Polishing and slightly flattening the contact points between teeth helps them fit together more snugly, which can reduce the risk of relapse (teeth shifting) after braces or aligner treatment.
What the IPR Process Involves
The entire IPR procedure usually takes just a few minutes during a routine appointment. It may be done in small stages as your teeth move. The amount and location of IPR are measured in tenths of a millimeter and planned by your orthodontist. Your doctor may use smooth polishing strips, thin diamond discs, or a fine handpiece with water to remove and contour enamel between specific teeth. Surfaces may be treated with fluoride, or your orthodontist may recommend remineralizing solutions or toothpaste to help reinforce enamel.
What IPR Feels Like
Most patients describe IPR as feeling like gentle pressure or vibration—rarely uncomfortable, and typically requiring no anesthesia. Afterward, your teeth may feel slightly different to your tongue for a day or two, but that sensation quickly fades. Tooth sensitivity is possible but is usually short-lived and resolves over a period of a few weeks.
Is IPR Safe For Enamel?
Yes. When performed by an orthodontic specialist, IPR is completely safe. Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, and the amount removed is extremely minimal. Research shows that properly performed IPR does not increase your risk of cavities or gum disease—especially when you maintain good oral hygiene habits. The treated surfaces remain smooth, healthy, and strong.
Benefits of IPR
Conservative and natural—it works with your natural teeth instead of adding or removing them.
Creates room for ideal alignment without removing teeth.
Improves bite balance for better comfort and function.
Enhances smile esthetics by reducing spacing near the gumline and refining tooth shapes.
Supports long-term stability and cleaner contact areas.
IPR Aftercare Tips
1. Brush twice daily with a fluoride or mineralizing toothpaste and floss daily.
2. If you notice temporary sensitivity, a sensitivity toothpaste and sensitivity mouthrinse can help.
3. Wear aligners or elastics as prescribed, because the new space helps teeth move where planned.
4. Call your orthodontic team if anything feels sharp or unusual after a day.
Alternatives to IPR
Your orthodontist always considers other options before recommending IPR. These may include dental arch expansion (within limits), other tooth movement strategies such as proclining teeth, selective tooth extractions, or cosmetic bonding.
Your orthodontist chooses IPR if it supports a healthier bite and a better long-term result using the most conservative approach possible.
A Gentle Touch for a Brilliant Smile
Interproximal reduction is one of most common and conservative tools in orthodontics. By reshaping enamel slightly, IPR helps create space, refine your bite, and perfect your smile—all while keeping your natural teeth healthy and intact. If your orthodontic plan includes IPR, know that it’s part of a careful strategy to help your smile look and function its very best.
IPR is a gentle way to make enough room for teeth to align beautifully and function well. It helps fine-tune results, often shortens treatment, and supports a clean, polished, natural-looking smile. If you have questions about where and why IPR appears in your plan, our orthodontic team at Godley Family Orthodontics can walk you through the specifics and show you exactly how it improves your outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does IPR hurt?
You might feel vibration or pressure. It is typically comfortable without numbing.
Will I see gaps after IPR?
You may be able to see or feel the tiny spaces created by IPR, however they are purposeful and typically close as teeth move. Your orthodontist utilizes IPR so that spaces resolve during treatment.
Is IPR permanent?
Enamel does not grow back, which is why it is important that IPR is performed by an orthodontist. The amounts removed are very small and safe.
Does IPR increase my risk of cavities?
No, research has shown that it does not when performed by a specialist.
How much enamel is removed during IPR?
Typically 0.2–0.5 mm per contact.
Is IPR covered by insurance?
IPR is part of your orthodontic treatment plan and usually included in the overall treatment fee rather than billed separately.
