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Have you considered gum contouring?

Have you ever felt insecure about how your smile looks because it shows too much gum? A “gummy smile” is nothing to worry about from a health perspective, but if it’s making you feel unhappy with the way you look, gum contouring could be the solution you’re looking for.

A guide to gum contouring
Gum contouring is a relatively easy procedure that your dentist can provide that will instantly transform your smile. This treatment is also sometimes referred to as gingival sculpting or a gingivoplasty. When you choose this treatment, your dentist will use either a scalpel or a laser to remove or reshape your gum tissue.

Depending on whether you want your gums to look more even in appearance or achieve a higher or lower gumline, the treatment will slightly differ. In most cases, gum sculpting will involve the removal of excess tissue so that more of your tooth structure is visible when you smile.

What to expect
Gum contouring is a fast, effective cosmetic treatment that usually only takes one visit to your dental practice!

Local anaesthesia will be used to numb your gums, which will then be sculpted to your desired aesthetic. In some cases, your dentist may use sutures to keep the gums in place after reshaping. Treatment times vary from person to person, but this work typically only takes 1 or 2 hours.

Does gum contouring hurt and how long does it take to heal?
The treatment is performed under local anaesthesia, so it should be pain-free! However, due to the nature of the treatment it’s likely that you will feel soreness afterwards. Your dentist will likely prescribe you a painkiller to help reduce pain during the healing period.

Laser gum contouring usually takes anything from a week up to 10 days to heal fully, though in some cases healing can be instantaneous. During the recommended healing period, you should avoid eating hard foods so that your gums have the best chance of recovering as swiftly as possible.

You will also be required to visit your dentist again a few days or a week after your gum contouring appointment to ensure your gums are healing properly and that they aren’t infected.

Find out more
If you want to find out more – get in touch! Our practice has dentists who are members of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD). This ensures that they are experts at providing procedures such as gum contouring and will always deliver an exceptional standard of treatment!

Please contact our team today if you’d like to book an appointment.