Services
Gum Contouring
Gum Contouring
Gum contouring removes excess tissue and reshapes your gum line. Dentists use this procedure to treat uneven or “gummy smiles” (when you have extra gum tissue that covers parts of your teeth). Some people have a “gummy smile” that makes their teeth look short or boxy. Others have an uneven gum line that’s too high in some places and too low in others. Gum contouring removes excess gum tissue to make your smile look more uniform.
Cosmetic gum contouring might be right for you if you have:
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Excessive gingival display (a “gummy smile”).
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An uneven gum line.
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Gum overgrowth from wearing braces.
Procedure Details
Before your gum contouring procedure, a dental provider (usually a dentist or periodontist) will meet with you to discuss your cosmetic goals. They’ll ask what you like about your smile, and what you’d like to improve.
During your initial consultation, your provider will do a dental exam. It’s important to be in good oral health before having a gum contouring procedure. So, they’ll make sure you don’t have cavities, gum disease or other oral health conditions that need treatment first.
Next, the dentist will look at your gum-to-tooth ratio to determine how much tissue they’ll need to remove. They’ll also consider factors like lip position, tooth wear and your facial bone structure to achieve the right symmetry and balance.
Finally, the dentist will check the bone levels around each tooth. If you have too much bone around your teeth, they may need to remove a very small amount. Without this step, your gums may grow back to where they were before the procedure.
Gum contouring recovery tips
To give yourself the best chance of a speedy, comfortable recovery:
Take medication as directed. It’s normal to have some soreness after gum contouring. But you shouldn’t have severe pain.
Avoid exercise or heavy lifting. Getting your heart rate up can increase bleeding, swelling and pain. Skip the gym for the first five days and reintroduce these routines slowly.
Keep the surgical area clean. Reducing bacteria in your mouth helps speed recovery and reduce your risk of infection.
Eat soft foods. Examples include eggs, yogurt, pasta, cooked vegetables and smoothies. Eating these foods for the first few days gives your gums time to heal. Avoid hard, crunchy or spicy foods for about one week.
Facial injury.
Congenitally missing teeth (you were born without certain teeth).
Benefits
Cosmetic gum reshaping can:
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Make your smile more uniform.
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Make your teeth more proportional to the rest of your smile.
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Make small, boxy teeth larger.
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Eliminate extra gum tissue that covers your teeth.
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Bring balance and symmetry to an uneven gum line.