When you have a smile that displays too much gum tissue, this could be an esthetic concern you cannot address with whitening or bonding/contouring. Instead, the gingival tissue themselves need to be reshaped and corrected. In today’s blog, your Bellaire, TX, dentist talks about how we do this in one visit with gum contouring.
The Causes of a Gummy Smile
You could develop a smile that displays too much gingival tissue for a number of reasons, such as complications with the growth of your smile or the eruption of your natural teeth. This could not only make teeth appear short, but uneven as well. For others, this could be due to swelling related to periodontal health issues, such as periodontal disease. To correct these issues and offer a more esthetically pleasing smile, we could contour the smile.
The Contouring Procedure
First, our team will examine the teeth, oral structures, and gums to discover if disease is present, or issues like cavities or infection. If so, we may need to treat or manage these concerns before we can move forward. We also want to make sure your teeth don’t need to undergo orthodontic treatment beforehand, as braces or aligners occurring afterward could again alter the gum line. The process starts with our team marking the gums and planning the procedure in detail. We then gently trim away excess tissues and reshape the symmetry of the smile, so it is even and more attractive. The process only takes one visit, and you will likely only need one day of rest before returning to your normal routine. The technology we use will also reduce the risk of bleeding and infection, and help you avoid swelling or damage to healthy tissues. In fact, anesthesia is rarely needed for this procedure!
Tooth Contouring
What about tooth contouring? While this also involves reshaping the parts of your smile, this doesn’t use the same technology or planning. Instead, we simply use a device to sand and buff away structure to correct the teeth and remove pits, grooves, or rough patches in the outer surface. We also dull sharp or pointed teeth, reshape malformed or overly large ones, and address minor chips too.
If you have any questions about either contouring procedure, or about other issues that could impact your gum health, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy optimal oral health and a stunning smile!
Talk To Your Bellaire, TX Dentist About Gum Health
We can help you enjoy a more attractive smile in one visit. If you have questions about our approach to cosmetic dental care, then please reach out to Contemporary Dental And Orthodontics at 713-668-9119.