Gum Contouring in Hillsborough, NC

Does the appearance of an uneven or gummy smile leave you feeling less confident in your oral health? Here at Providence Smiles, we provide gum contouring to help refine your gums and give you an overall beautiful smile. If you would like to learn more about gum contouring in Hillsborough, North Carolina, please give us a call today at 919-732-8179 and set up a visit with our dentist, Dr. Kwame Gyampo!

We may recommend cosmetic gum surgery, also known as a gingivectomy or crown lengthening, if your appearance is affected by what is referred to as a “gummy smile.” This procedure can enhance the appearance of your teeth and fix any problems with the shape of your gumline.

What is gum contouring and what are the benefits?

Gum contouring is used most of the time to fix a “gummy smile.” A gummy smile is when the teeth look abnormally short because of excessive gum tissue. The gum tissue may appear too bulky, or it might look like the gums come down over your teeth too far. In most cases, a gummy smile is the result of excessive gum tissue covering teeth that are a normal length and shape. Too much gum tissue can be caused by genetics, certain health problems or taking certain prescription medicines. Gum contouring can remove the excess gum tissue to give you a fuller smile and create a more even gumline if your gumline appears uneven or asymmetrical. Gum contouring can also make teeth look brighter and more evenly spaced.

If you have a decayed or broken tooth, this treatment can expose more of the tooth so that a broken or decayed tooth can be repaired.

What does the gum contouring treatment entail?

During this treatment, we will simply remove a small amount of the gum tissue with a soft tissue later, revealing more of the tooth structure and giving you a fuller smile. Cosmetic gum surgery usually requires just one visit to our office. By removing some of the gum tissue and bone around the teeth, gum contouring can make the teeth look longer and improve the beauty of your smile.

What is the recovery like?

Gum contouring does not have a lot of downtime in recovery, but your gums may take a few days to weeks to completely heal. The length of healing will depend on the extent of the surgery. You may have to limit some activity for the first few days depending on how you feel and how tender your mouth is.
Since your gums and mouth are likely feel sensitive or tender after treatment, you may want to stick to a soft food diet for two to three days. Soft foods include soup, applesauce or yogurt. Our dentist will give you any other post treatment instructions you may need, and do not hesitate to ask any questions about this procedure. We are happy to answer.

Are there any risks in undergoing this treatment?

Gum contouring is generally a safe and effective procedure with a low risk of complications. The most common side effect is temporary gum soreness and sensitivity. In rare cases, the gums may heal in an uneven way, causing the teeth to look “ragged.” If this occurs, a second procedure can be performed to correct the problem.

If you have a gummy smile or your gumline appears uneven or asymmetrical, gum contouring may be an excellent choice to improve your appearance. Our dentist will help you determine whether this treatment is right for your smile. Call our office to learn more and schedule your individual consultation!