What Is Gum Contouring?

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If you have beautiful, even teeth, you are likely to have an attractive smile. Having an uneven gum line, however, may cause some aesthetic issues. When gums lie either too high, or too low on the teeth, the result is an imbalance that is not exactly attractive.

There are many individuals with uneven gumlines who are unhappy about their smiles. Fortunately, the problem can be addressed by a cosmetic dental treatment known as gum contouring. The procedure is also called tissue sculpting or gum reshaping.

Gum contouring is a fairly clear-cut procedure wherein the dentist uses laser technology for trimming and reshaping the gum tissue to create a neater, better, and more attractive balance between the gum tissue, and the teeth. The procedure is so straightforward, that it can be accomplished in just one visit to your local Oxon Hill dental office.

Is the procedure painful?

Gum surgery, prior to the advent of laser technology, was considered an excruciating and painstaking process. Not anymore. The use of state-of-the-art laser treatment has allowed dentists to do the procedure quickly, safely, and relatively pain-free. The laser is used to cut away the gums. It also causes the wounds to naturally seal up. Bleeding is minimal. There are no stitches required. And there are no open wounds to worry about.

The procedure is so simple that you will not even need general anesthesia. Your dentist will simply use local anesthesia. Aside from feeling some numbness in the jaw area, you will not go through unbearable pain or weakening after-effects.

You may feel some discomfort after the treatment, though. Your gums will swell and feel raw and tender. It will help if you take over-the-counter pain relief medications. People find that using a mouthwash also helps to alleviate some of the discomfort. Fortunately, healing is typically fast, easy, and uncomplicated.

Gum reshaping is an entirely cosmetic procedure conducted on the front teeth to ensure a beautiful smile. You get immediate results right after the procedure. The results are usually permanent.

In some cases, tissue sculpting may just be one part of a full restorative dental plan to ensure a beautiful smile that lasts. A dentist may have to do further procedures to ensure that the gums do not grow back. He may need to remove some bone from the crest of the teeth.

How much money should you put aside for the procedure?

As with almost all dental procedures, the cost of gum reshaping is highly dependent on the skill and proficiency of the dentist, and the value of his practice. Most people consider the expense relatively low, considering the dramatic difference the procedure does to their smile.