Gum Line Contouring for a Shapelier Smile

In order to have a beautiful smile, your gum line is just as important as having white, straight teeth. Although people don’t often think of their gums as being part of their smile, the way your gums attach to your teeth helps to create the shape of each individual tooth. Having a gum line that is uneven or that comes down too far on your teeth can negatively affect the aesthetics of your smile. In some cases, gum contouring may be recommended to give you a shaplier smile.

You may be a candidate for gum contouring if you have a “gummy” smile, meaning that your gums extend too far on your teeth, or if you have an uneven gum line. Gummy smiles can make your teeth appear too short, while an uneven gum line can make certain teeth look longer than the others, giving you the look of a mismatched smile. Gum contouring can help correct misaligned teeth, uneven lengths, uneven ridges, uneven grooves, gummy smiles, and inflamed or swollen gums.

But, what exactly is gum contouring? Gum contouring, also referred to as gum reshaping, gingivectomy, or tissue sculpting, is a cosmetic dental procedure that adds more symmetry to your gum line. By evening out areas of the gum line, gum contouring gives your smile an overall more even appearance. In some cases where the gums have grown too far over the teeth, gum contouring will help uncover your teeth and make your smile look less “gummy”.

The gum contouring procedure is rather straightforward, can be performed in your dentist’s office, and is relatively painless. Although in the past gum surgery, including gum contouring, used to be quite painful, the introduction of lasers into the dental field have helped to alleviate this. Nowadays, dentists simply use a local anesthetic and a specialized laser to scrape away excess gum tissue and reshape the remaining tissue. Since the laser seals up the wound as it scrapes away the gums, there is no bleeding nor need for stitches.

After the procedure once the local anesthetic has worn off, there will most likely be some minor pain and discomfort. Patients usually report their gums feeling sore, tender, and inflamed after the procedure. This is normal and can usually be  easily remedied by over the counter painkillers. Your dentist will also give you special post-op instructions to follow. Generally, these instructions contain information about painkillers, how to brush during recovery, and a specialized diet with soft foods such as eggs, pasta, yogurt, cottage cheese, and soft vegetables.

Gum contouring surgery is usually considered to be a cosmetic procedure, however there are instances when it may be a necessity, such as in the case of periodontitis. Since it is generally performed as a cosmetic procedure, it will most likely not be covered by your dental insurance. However, most offices have payment plans to help make the procedure more affordable. In the end, the cost depends on the extent of the work being done.

If you are interested in learning more about how gum contouring can improve your smile, or if you are interested in receiving a quote for the procedure, schedule a consultation with Dr. Shaaban today!