Gingival Contouring
Lilburn, GA
 If your gums are too high or too low, your smile won't look as nice as it could. Fortunately, Gwinnett Dental Implant & Periodontal Center offers gingival contouring surgery, which can give you a look you'll love.
Causes of Uneven Gums
Uneven gums have many different causes. If your gums cover a large part of your teeth, your teeth can look smaller than they actually are. This is caused by genetics, certain prescription drugs, or health problems.
If your gums are too high, your teeth will have an elongated appearance. This is often caused by a condition known as gum recession, where the gum tissue recedes from the tooth and uncovers the root. This condition is sometimes a symptom of periodontal disease, which is the deterioration of the gums and bone supporting the teeth.
When is Gingival Contouring Necessary?
Also known as gum contouring, gum reshaping, or tissue sculpting, gingival contouring is usually seen as a cosmetic procedure when performed in isolation. It is not medically necessary most of the time. For most patients, it's an optional cosmetic procedure.
Some patients might need it if they're undergoing other oral surgical procedures, like pocket reduction or crown lengthening. If a gingival contouring procedure involves adding gum tissue to fix recession or trimming tissue that is growing over the crown, then it is not considered cosmetic.
The Gingival Contouring Procedure
Gingival contouring surgery is performed in our office. Dr. Schiffer, Dr. Greenwald, Dr. Kurialacherry, and Dr. Kancherla perform the procedure using lasers, scalpels, and radiosurgery. We'll arrange a consultation beforehand to determine which technique is best suited to your situation.
We may use a local anesthetic to numb the area of surgery. Sometimes we'll also remove bone at the front of the tooth root during this procedure to get superior and lasting results.
Risks
Every surgery contains an element of risk. The most common one connected to gingival contouring is the gum tissue relapsing back to its original position. A patient can also have an allergic reaction to the anesthetic, but this is rare.
The Recovery Period
On the day of the procedure, we recommend limiting your activities and resting once the surgery is done. Your gums may need a few days or even a few weeks to fully heal. Dr. Schiffer, Dr. Greenwald, Dr. Kurialacherry, and Dr. Kancherla will give you all the instructions you'll need for the healing process, but we'll list some general rules here.
Don't eat foods with seeds or anything spicy until your gums are fully healed. For the first few days after the procedure, only eat foods that are soft and cool, like yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream, pasta, eggs, and soft vegetables.
Follow Dr. Schiffer, Dr. Greenwald, Dr. Kurialacherry, and Dr. Kancherla's instructions on how and when to brush your teeth. If you experience pain, take Tylenol, Advil, or another over-the-counter pain reliever. Aspirin causes bleeding, so do not take it. If you have any questions following the procedure or if you experience excessive bleeding or swelling, contact us.
If you want to improve your smile, and with it your quality of life, contact us, and we'll set up a consultation to determine whether gingival contouring will work for you. Our office also offers an aesthetic gum lift, which is a cosmetic dental procedure that is used to reshape the gumline, thus improving the appearance of the gum tissue, as well as the overall facial appearance.
For more information, please contact our office at (470) 222-8983. |
