What is Gum Contouring?
Gum contouring is also called gum reshaping or gum lifting. This is most often a cosmetic procedure that is really about your smile. Your smile is an invaluable personal asset that is usually taken for granted. Your smile is, quite frankly, the absolute foundation of your self-esteem and self-confidence. If there is an element of your smile that you do not care for, you might become self-conscious of this perceived flaw, and it will start to have a negative effect on your many personal and professional relationships. Considered a gummy smile, this is simply when your smile displays more gum than teeth. The proportions visible between the two are out of balance. This is a common and frequent occurrence, and one easily corrected with a simple gum contouring procedure.
Defining the Gummy Smile
The perception of a gummy smile will vary from person to person, but the dental industry agrees that if you have four millimeters of gum tissue showing while you smile, then the proportions are out of balance with the length of the crowns of your teeth. This condition is far more dramatic with your upper gums. The standard of an ideal smile has two to three millimeters of gum showing above your teeth during a smile.
What Causes a Gummy Smile
A gummy smile is an excessive amount of gum displayed under your upper lip. This perceived defect is often genetic. The position of your upper lip with your smile is also primarily genetic. As you age, you can wear down your teeth, and this may affect the proportions as well.
The Gum Contouring Procedure
The procedure, most often performed for cosmetic reasons, can also be beneficial to address decay, tooth loss, or gum disease. Depending on your personal and specific objectives, it can also be called crown lengthening, providing the same results. A local anesthetic is first applied to numb the soft tissue, and quite often, a dental laser is used to trim away the excessive gum tissue with almost no bleeding. As the dentist trims and sculpts your soft tissue, the laser also cauterizes at the same time, minimizing bleeding. A surgical scalpel is also used, but the entire procedure will most likely be done in sections to allow proper healing time.
The Healing Time and the Benefits of Gum Contouring
You might experience some minor swelling for a few days following the gum contouring. Depending on the specific amount of tissue removed, you may feel a little discomfort or increased sensitivity with a few teeth. Your dental team will recommend avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol for a while, as well as drinking through a straw. Follow your recovery instructions, and you will be healed within 10 days.
It is quite difficult and subjective to put a monetary value on your smile. Looking in the mirror, you will immediately appreciate the improvement. More beautiful white teeth showing and less gum tissue. The gum contouring might also improve some of the sagging pockets around your teeth, which then improves the overall health of your gums. You might also find it easier to brush. Establish and continue to maintain good habits with your oral hygiene, and you will also continue to enjoy your new, beautiful smile.