How to Correct a Gummy Smile
When you smile, you should feel amazing. Covering your mouth shouldn’t even cross your mind. Unfortunately, not everyone is proud of the smile they have especially if there is excess gum tissue present. For this, our Washington, MI, cosmetic dentists recommend laser gum surgery to alter your gum line.
Here’s how our dentists can approach using a dental laser.
What Does Laser Gum Surgery Involve?
Laser gum surgery (also known as gum reshaping, , or a gum lift) involves altering the shape of a patient’s gums and overall appearance of their gum line. For those who feel their gums are too prominent or irregular, this means scaling back the amount that’s visible so more of each tooth can be seen. You can think of it as lengthening the teeth when in reality, it’s the gums being treated.
The procedure is generally viewed as cosmetic and not medically necessary. Yet, in some instances, this surgery can be used to help with advanced gum disease or recession. Our dentists will be sure to advise you on how this particular procedure can improve your smile.
Benefits of Receiving Cosmetic Gum Surgery
If you choose to pursue gum contouring surgery as part of a smile makeover, you’ll be happy to know that there are several advantages including:
- A more proportional gum-to-tooth ratio
- Less gum tissue covering your teeth
- Correction of an uneven gum line
This procedure is also beneficial for patients who have undergone orthodontic treatment and want to refine the appearance of their gum line to complement their newly aligned teeth. Overall, the benefits of laser gum reshaping extend beyond aesthetics. By altering the gum line, you can enhance the proportion of your teeth and gums, making your smile look more harmonious. Additionally, for some patients, this procedure can improve oral hygiene by reducing areas where plaque can accumulate, thereby promoting better gum health.
The Procedure: What to Expect
You can expect laser gum surgery to last anywhere from 1 to 2 hours although it is dependent on the patient. Regardless of the time taken, however, you will be good to go after a single visit to our Washington, MI, dental office.
To begin, our dental team will administer sedation before we get started to ensure you are appropriately comfortable. A specialized dental laser is then used to effectively remove or gently raise extra gum tissue that is around the teeth.
The laser not only allows for precision, but also minimizes the amount of gum pain, bleeding, and swelling experienced during recovery. Once the excess tissue is removed, our dentists can finish by contouring or repositioning the gum line to your liking.
Recovery Do’s and Don’ts
Some tenderness and sensitivity in the gum area is common for a few days following the gum reshaping procedure. You will be advised to eat only soft foods and to take either prescribed or over-the-counter medication to alleviate any pain.
Try eating these types of foods while you’re recovering:
- Yogurt
- Soup
- Applesauce
- Mashed potatoes
- Soft pastas
It may take a few weeks for your gums to completely heal depending on how much you have had done. Be sure to take a break from any strenuous activities (exercise) and do your best to not eat hard or sticky foods until approved.
In terms of oral hygiene, do not attempt to brush or floss over the affected area until it has started to heal. Doing so too early can dislodge any tiny clots that have formed on your gums. We recommend rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater during the first day post-procedure.
Our dentists will relay complete care instructions to you and will invite you back into the office for a follow-up appointment during your recovery to ensure no oral infection has begun forming.
Make an Appointment Today
Our , firmly believe that every patient deserves to feel confident about their smile. If you are one to hide your teeth and primarily blame your gums for that, we can help with laser gum surgery. Call Romeo Family Dentistry today at (586) 752-3589 or request an appointment online.
This blog post has been updated.