A smile can be the best makeup anyone can wear on their face. It is a natural way for people to greet each other by exchanging smiles. However, due to the high beauty standards, some people do get self-conscious about their smiles while clicking pictures or meeting someone due to the gummy smile, which makes your teeth look short or your uneven gumline visible. But you are not the only one who feels this way.
Many people share the same thoughts for their insecurity about their gum issues. But you have an opportunity to fix this issue with a simple and effective procedure called Gum Contouring. This process is also known as reshaping the gums. This is a cosmetic dental procedure to help improve your appearance with your perfect smile. Your smile can give you confidence. So, it is understandable to have that pearly white smile with no gums. This process drastically improves the appearance of your smile by altering the shape and position of the gum line.
In this article, we will explore and understand about gum contouring. Also, see the procedure and the benefits of this procedure, along with the recovery precautions.
What is Gum Contouring?
Gum Contouring is a cosmetic dental procedure that changes the appearance of your gums. The procedure is done by a dental specialist or a periodontist, who reshapes or resculpts your gumline. In the process, the doctor removes the excess gum tissue or cuts away around your teeth. If a patient has gum recession, then this procedure is used to restore gum tissue. This process is not medically necessary; however, it does improve the look of the gums, teeth, or smile.
The procedure of gum contouring:
It is a simple and easy procedure that can be completed in one visit to the dentist’s office. We have given a detailed breakdown of this process:
1. Consultation and Planning:
➤ Assessment:
The first step is to get a complete consultation with a dentist or periodontist. The dentist will examine your gumline, teeth, and overall oral health by taking an X-ray or photograph to check if you are suitable to undergo the gum contouring process.
➤ Treatment Planning:
Further on they will discuss your expectations by showing mock-up images of the possible outcomes. The dentist will give a personalized treatment plan as per your oral health and your desired expectations.
2. Preparation:
➤ Anesthesia:
Local anesthesia is used to numb the treatment areas to make sure the procedure will be pain-free for you.
➤ Cleaning:
The gums and teeth are thoroughly cleaned to reduce the risk of infection during and after the procedure.
3. Gum Reshaping:
➤ Laser or scalpel:
Some dentists prefer using a laser during the surgery as it provides precision and causes minimal bleeding. Along with that, it heals faster. In some cases, the dentist uses the scalpel for the gum contouring it is considered as the traditional method.
➤ Tissue removal:
In this process, the excess gum tissues are removed which results in exposing more teeth structure. It created a balanced and aesthetically pleasing gumline. The dentist uses the laser to seal the blood vessels which results in reduced swelling and bleeding.
➤ Reshaping:
The dentist does the gum refinement by sculpting the gumline to ensure symmetry and proportion with the teeth. In the process, the dentist pauses to check the gumline and make necessary changes.
4. Sutures:
➤ Stitches:
If there is a scalpel used following the traditional process, then if necessary, stitches are made to hold the gum tissue in place until healed.
5. Aftercare and Healing:
➤ Post-Procedure Cleaning:
After the process has been done, the dentist cleans out the areas to make sure there is no infection, and they also check if everything looks and feels right as the patient’s expectations.
➤ Healing Time:
The gums normally take up to 1-2 weeks to heal completely. The patient can experience mild discomfort, swelling, or tenderness, but is typically manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers.
➤ Diet and Hygiene Instructions:
The patient is advised to avoid spicy, hard, or sticky foods for a few days. Also, they should maintain gentle oral hygiene to avoid irritation.
6. Follow-up appointment:
After everything is complete the dentist will schedule a follow-up appointment to monitor the healing of the gumline and make sure the outcome is as expected.
Benefits of gum contouring:
➤ Enhance smile:
By removing the excess gum tissue, you can get rid of that gummy smile, which makes your teeth look longer and more symmetric. It also forms a more uniform gum line, resulting in a balanced and aesthetically pleasing smile.
➤ Boosted Confidence:
With a perfect smile, your confidence gets boosted along with good self-esteem, which helps impact your social and professional life more positively.
➤ Improved oral hygiene:
With an even gum line, it gets easy to brush your teeth and floss, which reduces the risk of gum disease and plaque build-up. By removing excess gum tissue, gum contouring can eliminate pockets where bacteria can accumulate, minimizing the risk of gum disease and other oral health issues.
Gingivectomy 101: Important Things to Know Before Your Procedure
Conclusion:
Gum Contouring is a minimalist process of improving your appearance by removing the excess gum tissues to get a uniform gum line. That enhances your smile, ultimately boosting your confidence. An attractive smile makes your social and professional life positive. A smile can be your natural invitation to greet and meet new people and experiences. So, don’t let a gummy smile come in the way of it. Consult your dentist thoroughly before undergoing this procedure.
A Dentist is a Lifetime Medical Professional, part Artist, part Architect, part Entrepreneur, part Engineer, part Physicist, part Surgeon, part Businessman, part Therapist, and part Community Friend.”
FAQ:
- What does gum contouring do?
- Gum contouring is a procedure, done by a dental specialist, which reshapes or resculpts your gumline. The process of gum contouring involves cutting away or removing excess gum tissue around your teeth. If you have gum recession, the procedure involves restoring gum tissue.
- Does gum contouring last?
- For many patients, the results of the gum contouring procedure are permanent and do not need to be repeated. Typically, gums do not grow back after being shaped. Maintaining and cleaning the teeth regularly can help prevent further irritation or recession from occurring.
- Is gum contouring expensive?
- The fee for contouring one tooth can range from $50 to $350; the rate of contouring all of the front teeth ranges from $100 to $3,000. Unless deemed medically necessary by your physician, gum contouring is considered a cosmetic procedure and will likely not be covered by your dental insurance.
