Your smile isn’t only about your teeth. If you have excess or uneven gum tissues, your teeth can appear short, affecting your smile. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry can change the appearance of your gums and give you a beautiful cosmetic smile.
Among other procedures, your dentist can recommend gingival recontouring, also known as gum reshaping or tissue sculpting. The procedure is designed to reconstruct your gum tissues and enhance the appearance of your smile. Let’s look at the candidacy, benefits, and recovery of gum recontouring treatment.
Who is a Candidate for Gingival Contouring?
The only sure way to determine whether you’re eligible for gum contouring is to visit a dental office near you. The dentist will inspect your gums and surrounding structures and advice you accordingly. Generally, gum contouring is effective in correcting numerous gum issues, including:
- Gummy smile
- Teeth that appear shot
- Uneven gum line
- Teeth that appear unevenly sized
- Premature aging
- Illusion of crookedness
- Red and puffy gums
- Pain and inflammation from rubbing excess gum tissues
What are the Benefits of Gingival Contouring?
Most patients report enjoying the following benefits after gingival contouring:
- Aesthetic Benefits
The primary reason for gum contouring is commonly for aesthetic benefits. If your gums are uneven or too low in your mouth, it may throw off the idea of a perfect smile. You’re likely to feel insecure about smiling or laughing broadly. Gum contouring changes the appearance of your gum line, giving a beautiful and healthy-appearance smile.
- Improved self-confidence
Having a gummy, uneven, or short-looking smile can make you self-conscious about your appearance. According to research, 96% of adults believe that having an attractive smile makes you more appealing to the other gender. Others believe that an attractive smile can hurt your chances of career success. With gingival contouring, you achieve a symmetrical and gorgeous smile, making you feel good about your smile.
- Improved periodontal health
While most people go for gum contouring due to cosmetic reasons, the procedure also benefits your oral health. For instance, reshaping excess gum tissues can help treat and lessen the risk of gum infection. Your dentist can recommend gum contouring when undergoing certain procedures such as pocket reduction, crown lengthening, and regenerative procedures.
Similarly, gum contouring reduces your risk of gum disease and bacteria growth. The more gum tissue you have, the more areas for bacteria and plaque to hide. Gum contouring gives you a healthy gum line, preventing the risk of plaque and bacteria attacks. A proportional gum line makes brushing and flossing much easier, which is essential for your oral and overall health.
Recovery from Gingival Contouring
Usually, gum contouring only requires a single appointment. You’ll be given anesthetic to keep you calm and pain-free during the procedure. After the procedure, it’s normal to experience a few side effects, such as minor pain and swelling. Fortunately, these issues should fade away after a few days. General healing takes about 1-2 weeks. Follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions strictly to facilitate faster healing and recovery. These can include:
- Limit physical activity by resting adequately for the next 48 to 72 hours.
- Hydrate well before and after the surgery
- Brush and floss daily. Be gentle around the treated areas. You can use an alcohol-free mouthwash and salty water to prevent infection.
- Your dentist will likely give you some medication to manage pain and swelling in the area. Take them as instructed and avoid medications such as aspirin.
- Use an ice pack to manage pain and swelling
- For the next three days or so, stick to a soft diet. Completely avoid hard, hot, crunchy, sticky, and spicy foods as they can disturb or irritate the area. This can delay healing. Avoid items such as nuts, kiwis, popcorn, and poppy seeds. Instead, opt for eggs, yogurt, soft pasta, soft cooked vegetables, and soups.
- Notify your dentist immediately if your symptoms worsen or persist.
- Schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings to maintain healthy gum tissues and overall wellness.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Do you think gingival contouring may be right for you, or do you need more information about the procedure? Contact Toothworks to speak with our best dentist in Calgary.