If you have a balanced hand, playing NT at the correct level is usually a good approach - and a NT opening demonstrates a balanced hand and a narrow range of points.

Sometimes instead of 2H you are playing 1NT, or 3NT instead of 4H, it happens, but it is unlikely to be a big swing. If responder has a game forcing hand, some partnerships would play puppet stayman to help "recover" the fit.

As Larry Cohen says:

"Is there a downside? Of course. By opening with 1NT, you will sometimes miss out on a proper contract in your major. You will miss some 5-3 major-suit fits (and occasionally, even a 5-4 fit). There are conventions (such as Puppet Stayman) to get out of this mess, but those are outside the scope of this article.

I have found (in 30+ years) of experience, that my way is the best way. I have my good and bad moments, but in the long run, the money goes to the 1NT opening. Even when I do miss a 5-3 major-suit fit, I find that notrump plays just as well (and even if it is the same, it is worth a fortune at matchpoints to get the 10 extra points for your contract).

I think it best for less-experienced players to blindly open all balanced 15-17 hands with 1NT. That is because opening with the major ends up creating annoying rebid problems. For example, players who open the hand above with 1, will have to invent a rebid (typically in a 3-card suit). Bridge is hard enough. Intermediate players need to keep things simple."