Are you unhappy with your smile? Is it because your teeth look too small? Is there more pink than white? Is your gingival tissue overtaking your smile? Some people have what is referred to as a “gummy” smile. That means they have excess gingival tissue (gum tissue). A gummy smile can make your teeth look too short and stubby, and can make you feel self-conscious about smiling. Although a gummy smile can be a matter of individual perception, the rule-of-thumb is that if your showing more than four millimeters, or an eighth of an inch, of gum tissue, then your gingival tissue has become an issue.
Can it be Corrected?
Many people aren’t aware that there is a dental procedure available that can help decrease the amount of gum tissue apparent on your teeth. This procedure is called gum contouring and consists of gently removing and reshaping excess gum tissue using a special soft tissue laser. The procedure reduces the amount of gum tissue while exposing more of your dentition, giving you the esthetic smile you’ve always wanted.
Gum Contouring
Although at one time, gum contouring involved cutting away the gum tissue with a scalpel and stitching the tissue up with sutures, which required weeks to heal, today’s technology has made it a rather quick, easy, and painless procedure. Soft tissue lasers are minimally invasive, involve less tissue removal, and cauterize the tissue (sealing off blood vessels and nerve endings) during removal, resulting in less bleeding, little to no pain, and faster healing. Although your gums will likely be sore for a few days, any discomfort can be alleviated with over-the-counter pain relievers.
