A beautiful, confident smile is about more than having straight, white teeth. The shape and position of your gums play a significant role in smile aesthetics. Too much or too little gum tissue can dramatically affect your smile’s symmetry and balance, making you feel self-conscious every time you smile.
At Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center, our team helps patients achieve more attractive smiles with state-of-the-art treatments, such as gum contouring, which reshapes the gum line and restores optimal smile aesthetics. Here, learn how gum contouring works and what to expect during and after a contouring procedure.
Most of us realize that our gums play a role in oral health; they provide a foundation for teeth, while serving as a barrier against bacteria and other germs. But they also create a frame for your teeth, and in that way, they have a surprising influence on how your smile looks.
In fact, an attractive, balanced smile depends on an optimal ratio between your teeth and your gums: Too much gum tissue “hides” your teeth and creates a “gummy smile,” while too little gum tissue makes your smile look worn and older.
Gum contouring helps reshape and even out your gum line, achieving that ideal balance between your gums and teeth that’s associated with a beautiful, confident smile. At the same time, contouring techniques ensure gum function remains intact, so you can continue to enjoy better oral health, too.
Gum contouring starts with a review of your goals and an assessment of your smile. This step ensures your treatment is tailored specifically to you, either as a standalone treatment or as part of a broader smile makeover.
Treatment begins with a local anesthetic to numb your gum tissue. If you’re anxious, we may suggest a mild sedative.
Next, we begin contouring, removing excess gum tissue or using graft tissue removed from elsewhere in your mouth to supplement your gum line, depending on your specific needs and treatment plan. The overall goal is to enhance the frame of your teeth, so your smile looks even and healthy. Most treatments take about an hour.
After your contouring treatment, you can expect some soreness and swelling. Over-the-counter pain medication can help, and so can avoiding hard, chewy, spicy, or crunchy foods for a few days to promote optimal healing and prevent irritation.
Before leaving our office, we specify recovery instructions to offer comfort and speed healing. A checkup visit about a week or so later ensures your gums are healing and healthy.
By improving the balance and symmetry of your smile, gum contouring can help you enjoy a more beautiful, confident smile while preserving your oral health. To learn more about gum contouring and how it can help you achieve your goals, contact Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center in Waterford, Michigan, by calling 248-681-8100 or requesting an appointment online today.
