A beautiful smile is highly cherished by many. However, gums that are either too high or too low can water down the appearance of your awesome smile by making your teeth appear either too large or too small, respectively. This improper gum alignment is genetic and is usually corrected through a procedure called gum contouring or reshaping. Basically, gum contouring is a simple cosmetic dental operation aimed at evening out the otherwise uneven gum line.
A number of things can cause your gums to be too low or too high. Gums that cover a large portion of your teeth can make your teeth look small. This may be the result of genetics, a particular health problem, or taking certain prescription drugs.
Gums that are too high and make your teeth appear long are often caused by gum recession, a condition in which gum tissue pulls back from a tooth and exposes the tooth’s root. Not only can gum recession make your teeth look long, it can lead to serious dental problems such as decay and tooth loss. Gum recession may also be a sign of periodontal disease, the deterioration of the supporting structures of the teeth (gums and bone).
While gum reshaping isn’t medically necessary, it does improve the appearance of your smile. Many of our patients feel self conscious with uneven gums or gums that cover too much of their teeth, which is why they ask about gum reshaping or gum tissue removal. Gum reshaping is considered a cosmetic procedure, unless your dentist needs to add gum tissue or trim tissue that has grown over the top of your tooth.
Gum contouring is a simple dentistry procedure that is painless and fast. Two methods are mostly used to perform the operation. Using a scalpel is the most common technique. However, the most suitable, convenient, and easy method is to use a laser. This technique, unlike the former, is relatively faster and helps to prevent much blood loss due to the incision. With the laser method, the wound seals as the cutting continues, making stitching unnecessary and helping the wound heal quickly.
There can be, but you will be medicated during the procedure, which will reduce the likelihood of you feeling any pain. The amount of pain really depends on how much gum tissue is being cut away, shaped, or grafted. Additionally, the type of dental tools in the procedure will impact what your gums feel like afterward.
As a cosmetic procedure, the biggest benefit of gum contouring is giving the patient confidence in their smile. The ability to freely smile, and even speak, without hesitation can be life changing for many people. If you have been dodging photos of memorable moments because you are self conscience about your gummy smile, Badge Clinic’s Dentistry can help.
As a treatment for receding gums, gum contouring can have major benefits to the health of your teeth. When your gums recede, the sensitive parts of your teeth become exposed. This can lead to pain, sensitivity, damage, and serious tooth decay. If the recession gets too bad, it can expose the root of the tooth and cause bone damage.
Patients do not need to take any time off work, but may experience some soreness or swelling for up to a week. Over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen is often all that is needed. For the first few days following the procedure, patients should stick to soft foods like yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, Jello, eggs, pasta, and cooked vegetables – and avoid anything seedy or spicy.
