How Does Gum Contouring Work?

In our previous blogs, we’ve looked at a variety of different cosmetic treatments, such as teeth whitening and porcelain veneers. While these focus mainly on the teeth, we also have treatment options meant to help improve the beauty of the gums. In today’s blog, your El Paso, TX, dentists look at how we contour your gums to improve smile beauty!

Improving Gummy Smiles

A gummy smile means you display too much gingival tissue when you smile. For many, this can be embarrassing, and also impact the appearance of the teeth themselves, making them appear small or uneven. Teeth whitening and other common esthetic solutions won’t be enough to correct issues with the gingival tissue. However, with contouring we can gently trim away the excess tissue and then reshape the gumline, improving the appearance of the smile. The technology we use to complete the procedure also limits the risk of infection, and allows us to extract the excess tissue with accuracy and precision. You can typically return to your usual activities after a day or two of rest, and we will provide detailed instructions to ensure your healing period is quick and complication-free. We often prescribe this option as part of a total smile makeover, combining them with teeth whitening, dental bonding, and porcelain veneers.

Addressing Gum Health

What if you have poor gum health? If you begin to experience sore or bleeding gums, or if they appear red or swollen, then this could mean the inflammation, also known as gingivitis, or the early stages of periodontal disease. Unless addressed, gingivitis and periodontal disease could grow more severe until periodontitis forms, an advanced stage of the disease that attacks and destroys the tissues connecting the teeth and gums, causing tooth loss. We may use the same technology employed to contour the gums to remove diseased and infected tissue. Healthy tissue can adhere to the teeth, reducing the depth of periodontal pockets and allow us to monitor and manage the disease, preventing tooth loss.

Protecting Your Smile

To ensure you enjoy optimal gum health, be sure you brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes, and floss up and down the length of each side of every tooth, dipping below the gum line to remove trapped food particles. You also need to see us every six months for a cleaning, so we can remove plaque buildup. If you have any questions about combating periodontal disease or about improving smile beauty, then contact our team today.

SUNNY SMILES IN EL PASO PROVIDES GUM CONTOURING

At Sunny Smiles in El Paso, TX, our team would like to help protect your smile’s health and appearance. If you have questions about our approach to cosmetic dentistry, then please call our East El Paso location on N. Zaragoza Road at 915-849-9000!