There are many elements involved in making a perfect smile. One among them is the size and shape of the teeth in proportion to the mouth and gums. Sometimes the teeth may appear very small in proportion to the gums. This is known as ‘gummy smile’ and can make your smile unpleasant. The gum tissue around your teeth can be reshaped using a process known as gingival contouring. It not only helps to improve your smile but also improves your oral health.
Who needs Gum Recontouring?
Gum recontouring is mostly performed for cosmetic reasons to improve the aesthetic value of your smile but in some cases it is also done to improve oral hygiene. Due to poor oral hygiene and improper brushing, plaque and calculus may get accumulated where the tooth meets the gum resulting in the formation of gum pockets. Gum Reshaping is often done as part of periodontal procedures, pocket reduction, crown lengthening or other regenerative procedures.
Procedure
Gingival Contouring is generally performed as an in-office procedure by periodontists or cosmetic dentists. Typically it requires only a single visit and can be completed in an hour or two. A soft tissue laser is used to trim away or re- contour or seal excess gum tissue. This is done under the effect of local anesthesia applied to the gums and is minimally invasive. There are no associated stitches or bleeding and you feel only a minor discomfort. Sometimes in order to get long term benefits from gum recontouring, the bone at the front of the tooth root needs to be removed.
The healing time depends on the type of procedure you have undergone to reshape your gums. In general, you might experience minor swelling and discomfort after the procedure that can be relieved using over the counter pain medications.
At Dr. Mukul Dabholkar’s Dental Clinic we combine remarkable skill with keen artistic sensibilities to create a smile that is amazing. We understand that your smile is important to you and it is just as important to us too. Hence we advise you to entrust your smile only to professionals with experience and expertise to provide outstanding results. If you have a gummy smile and considering of getting it corrected then you can just visit us or fix an appointment with us to know more about our practice and the possibilities of gingival contouring.