healthy smile

How Does Gum Contouring Enhance Your Smile?

February 24, 2021
Gum Disease Treatment

The most important aspects that influence the overall appearance of a healthy smile are teeth and gums. But do your gums rest too low or too high on your teeth? Then Gum Contouring surgery is here at your rescue. 

Gum Contouring /gum reshaping /tissue sculpting is a cosmetic dental method. The process evens out an uneven gum line and you achieve a confident smile. The process is carried out by a Dentist or a Periodontist.

Causes of Uneven Gums

  • When gums cover a great area of your teeth, it can make your teeth appear small. A gummy smile can make you feel awkward. It may be the impact of genetics, any specific health hazard, or having certain prescribed drugs.
  • When gums rest very high, they make your teeth seem long. This is basically the cause of gum recession. It can result in severe dental troubles like decay and tooth loss. Gum recession may also give a hint of periodontal disease.

Treatment Process

Nowadays, dentists take help of scalpels, lasers, and radiosurgery for the gum contouring surgery

Usually, dentists take a pen and sketch an outline to mark the new gum line. So, you can witness how much gum will get eliminated.

Your dentist applies a local anesthetic to numb the section. Then he/she uses a soft tissue laser to take out the excess gum tissue. 

At times, bone at the front of your tooth’s root is also pulled out during gum contouring. This renders you the best long-term results. 

If you have very limited gums, your dentist adds gum tissue. The dentist grafts the gum tissue or uses sterile donor tissue. This helps the gum line be designed into a more amazing shape.

What is the Recovery time like?

This in fact, depends on the type of tools utilized for the method.  However, it may take 2-3 weeks for your gums to entirely heal. 

The Dentist’s Tips to Quicken the Recovery Process

  • Take some rest and reduce your activities.
  • Don’t skip the doses prescribed by your dentist. 
  • Never take aspirin. 
  • Have soft foods for a few days post-surgery. 
  • Don’t eat spicy and hot foods and anything with seeds until your gums entirely heal.
  • Implement your dentist’s suggestions on when and how to brush your teeth during the healing phase.
  • Use a gentle, cleansing mouthwash that wipes out most germs on contact without the burn of alcohol on sensitive gums.

If you see extreme swelling or bleeding, or you face any problems after the surgery, visit your dentist instantly.