If you’re one of the many people across the world who are unhappy with the way their gums look, you may have thought about looking into a way to change them. A low or uneven gum line, or an overly “gummy” smile, can mean that your teeth look smaller or inconsistent in size and leave you feeling insecure. Luckily, there is a simple means of remedying this problem that can be permanent in conjunction with other treatments, leaving you with a more balanced, brighter looking smile and buckets of self-confidence. This procedure is called gum sculpting.
What Does Gum Sculpting Involve?
This type of treatment does exactly what it says on the tin – namely, it reshapes your gums around your teeth and removes any excess, clearing the way for a bigger, more beautiful smile. Otherwise known as gum contouring, the process will begin with a highly trained specialist sitting down with you for a consultation to confirm exactly what kind of procedure you’ll need. If you want less than two millimetres of gum removed, you’ll be booked in for a laser gum contouring appointment. At this next visit, your mouth will be number with local anaesthetic, and a high-powered, exceptionally accurate soft tissue laser will be used to gradually contour and reseal your gum tissue, ensuring that the end result is perfect.
If you wish to have more than two millimetres of gum removed, the procedure is slightly more complex. The tissue will need to be reduced surgically, which is equally as effective but will take a considerably greater amount of recovery time – sometimes up to four months.
What are the Health Benefits of Gum Sculpting?
If you find you get food trapped between your teeth and gums, or that you have hard to reach “pits” or areas of gum that you struggle to clean, this can lead to bacteria collecting and causing dangerous and painful infections that could lead to tooth loss and abscesses. A cosmetic dentist can use gum sculpting to counteract this problem and help you maintain a healthier smile.
Does Gum Sculpting Hurt?
Laser gum contouring is painless, as your dentist will numb your mouth for the procedure. You’ll also experience minimal discomfort afterward, as the process cauterizes your tissue. This means that the heat of the laser automatically heals the gum and prevents bleeding and infection. To remedy any soreness or swelling in a couple of weeks after you undergo gum sculpting, you may be given a gentle painkiller to take. It may be advisable to stick to softer food that isn’t chewy or crunchy for a few days, simply to assist in your recovery. If you have had surgical gum removal, the recovery time will be longer – as mentioned earlier – and you may be a little sorer as you won’t have had the benefit of cauterisation. This is nothing to worry about, however, as your cosmetic dentist will always be available to offer you help and advice!
How Can I Make the Most of My Gum Sculpting Procedure?
There are two foolproof ways to ensure that the effects of gum sculpting last as long as possible and look as good as they possibly can. The first is to arrange to have your teeth professionally whitened after the tissue is removed. Because the area that was hidden by your gum will not have had the same amount of light and cleaning that the exposed part has, it may appear slightly yellow or discoloured when it first emerges. Whitening will allow you to make the most of your new smile and leave it looking bright and healthy. The second method helps with the longevity of your new look. Your body is programmed to heal itself whenever it senses an injury, so having tissue removed will fool the remaining cells into regeneration mode – meaning that the gum is very likely to grow back over time. One of the best ways to train it into staying where it is for good is to have porcelain veneers applied. These are slim but sturdy shells of ceramic material that cover the outer surface of your teeth. They can be expertly shaped and coloured to look like natural teeth and can be tweaked and adjusted to make your smile perfectly even and white. Veneers can help to act as a barrier to train the gum against regrowth. An expertly applied set of veneers can last for up to twenty years, so you can rest assured that your treatment will potentially remain effective for the next two decades!
