What You Should Know About Gum Contouring

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Gum Contouring

If your gums are either too high or too low on the teeth and you are uncomfortable or unhappy with your smile, you could be a good candidate for gum contouring surgery. This cosmetic dental procedure can shape your gum line and give you a satisfying smile. The facility for gum contouring in Newport Beach offers this procedure at their offices to improve your teeth and gums’ health.

What causes uneven gums?

Some things make your gums big or small. Gums covering a large portion of the teeth make your teeth look small. This can happen due to genetics, taking certain prescription drugs, or a particular health problem.

Gums that are too high make your teeth look long are often caused by gum recession. This is a condition where gum tissue pulls back and exposes the tooth roots. Gum recession not only makes your teeth look long but it can lead to severe dental issues such as tooth loss and tooth decay. It can be a sign of periodontal disease.

How gum contouring works

Overgrowth of gum tissue can be corrected through gum contouring. Your oral surgeon, dentist, or periodontist uses a local anesthetic and a scalpel or laser to shape a more uniform gum line. Reshaped gums are healthier because the pocket depths of spaces between the teeth and gums are made shallow and easier to brush.

If simple contouring is inadequate, your dentist can go deeper with crown lengthening. During this procedure, a part of the gum and some bones are removed to correct the teeth’s anatomy. The surgery involves altering bones, and it requires stitches, so recovery is longer.

Treatment of gum recession can be accomplished by grafting the patient’s gum tissue from a part of the palate or a nearby tooth. Some surgeons use highly processed sterile donor tissue.

Gum contouring recovery time

When preparing for gum contouring, it’s important to limit your activities and rest before your procedure. Being relaxed and refreshed helps the body heal more easily and keeps your mind in a good state before the surgery.

After the procedure, it’s significant that the patient protects and cares for the area treated to improve the efficacy and speed of healing. Using a saline rinse by mixing a tablespoon of salt and adding to warm water, as well as a cup full of hydrogen peroxide accelerates your healing. You can use it after a snack or meal to clean residue or debris. As the area heals, there can be scabbing with the tissues falling off. This is normal and changes the appearance of the treated area. You should avoid spicy foods containing seeds until the gums are healed completely because the seeds can get beneath the gums and can complicate the healing process.

If you want to improve the appearance of your teeth and smile, gum contouring surgery can solve this discomfort. Enamel General & Cosmetic Dentistry’s dedicated team performs this procedure with your comfort in mind. After surgery, they send you home with instructions including guidelines on brushing your teeth awaiting the gums to heal. They also give over-the-counter medications to relieve pain.