Gum contouring is the name given to the procedure which involves reshaping or resculpting a person’s gums to enhance looks and get rid of physiological problems if there are any. In majority of the cases a gum contouring is an aesthetic procedure, meaning that it is not medically necessary. However in some cases where the patient has periodontal disease, gum contouring may be needed.
• People who have too much gum covering a large portion of the teeth
• People with receding gums that expose a large part of the teeth
• People with periodontal disease that can not be treated with non-surgical options
Gum contouring is performed under local anesthesia and can be done in just one simple visit to the dentist’s office. Depending on the condition of the patient’s mouth the gums will either be reduced or lengthened to enhance the aesthetics. If they are to be removed, then they will be cut with a scalpel or a soft tissue laser to expose more teeth. If they are to be lengthened then tissue from other parts of the mouth will be removed and secured to the teeth.
Depending on the exact procedure that needs to be done, gum contouring takes about 1-2 hours to finish.
Some tenderness and soreness is quite normal in the mouth once the anesthetics have worn off. Swelling is also normal which can be lessened by applying cold packs to the treated area. A diet composed of soft/liquid foods will be administered for the day or two after the treatment. An antibiotic based mouth wash may be prescribed in order to avoid infection. Other than these, no downtime is required and patient can go back to daily activities right after the procedure.
