Gum contouring reshapes the gum line so the teeth show in better proportion. At Dentistry For You in Broken Arrow it is usually done with a soft tissue laser, takes one appointment, and heals within days.
When the Gums Are the Problem
People who dislike their smile often assume the teeth are at fault. Sometimes the teeth are a perfectly normal size and shape and the gum is simply sitting too low over them, which makes them look short and square.
A few patterns come up repeatedly. A gummy smile, where a broad band of gum shows above the upper teeth. An uneven line, where one tooth looks noticeably shorter than the one beside it. Overgrown tissue, which some medications cause. And a gum line that never receded properly after the adult teeth came in, which is common in the late teens and twenties.
Reshaping the gum in these cases changes the proportions without touching the teeth at all.
Why a Laser
A soft tissue laser removes gum tissue and seals the edge as it goes. That means very little bleeding, no stitches in most cases, and a shorter, more comfortable recovery than the scalpel technique it replaced.
It is also precise. Reshaping a gum line is a matter of a millimetre here and there, and being able to work in small controlled increments is what makes the result look natural rather than obviously done.
What the Appointment Is Like
We start by measuring. The gum has to keep enough attached tissue around each tooth to stay healthy, so there is a limit to how much can be removed, and it varies tooth by tooth. Sometimes the bone underneath sits too high as well, and that needs a different procedure called crown lengthening rather than gum reshaping alone. We will tell you which one you are looking at.
The area is numbed. The new gum line is marked, then the laser follows it. Most cases take under an hour depending on how many teeth are involved. You will see the difference immediately, though the tissue keeps settling for a few weeks.
Afterwards
Expect tenderness for a few days rather than real pain, and stick to softer foods and lukewarm drinks for a short while. Keep brushing, gently, including the treated area, because keeping it clean is what keeps it healing well. We will give you specific instructions and check the result at a follow-up.
Combining It With Other Treatment
Gum contouring is often the first step rather than the whole job. If you are having veneers, the gum line decides where the edge of each veneer sits, so the contouring is done first and the gums are allowed to settle before impressions are taken. Doing it the other way round means the veneers are made to a gum line that is about to change.
It also pairs with whitening, which costs far less and is worth doing first so you can see how much of the problem was colour rather than shape.
When It Is Not Cosmetic
Not every gum reshaping case is about appearance. Overgrown tissue traps plaque and makes cleaning harder, so removing it is a health measure. And when a tooth has broken off near the gum, crown lengthening exposes enough structure for a crown to grip, which is what saves the tooth from extraction.
Call (918) 355-1391 or use the contact form.
Book a Gum Contouring Consultation
We will look at whether the gums, the teeth or both are what needs changing.