Enhancing Your Natural Smile
Do you feel self-conscious about excessive gumminess or uneven gumlines? Many patients share these cosmetic concerns. The good news is there is a procedure that can help – gum contouring and reshaping. With advanced reshaping techniques, an experienced cosmetic dentist can sculpt your gum tissues for a dramatically improved smile profile and boosted confidence. With our Executive Dentistry team, this procedure can help you put your best smile forward!
If you think your confidence could use a boost, contact Dr. Kalil Abraham to schedule a consultation at (313) 914-4440.
What is Contouring and Reshaping?
Gum contouring is a cosmetic procedure that can dramatically improve the appearance of your smile. Dr. Abraham offers specialized gum reshaping to enhance the aesthetics of your gumline and create a naturally beautiful smile. Keep reading to learn all about the benefits gum contouring can provide.
Briefly, gum contouring and reshaping involve carefully sculpting and restructuring the gum tissues to improve symmetry, correct unevenness, and reduce excess gingival display (“gummy smile”). This advanced cosmetic procedure is performed by Dr. Abraham to create a smile profile that looks healthy, balanced, and aesthetically pleasing.
Correcting Gummy and Uneven Gums
There are several situations where patients seek out gum contouring and reshaping procedures with Dr. Abraham at Executive Dentistry in Dearborn, MI. These include cases where individuals are unhappy with the appearance of their gums due to them looking too gummy or uneven. Gum reshaping can help improve these issues.
Additionally, gum recession can occur over time, exposing too much of the tooth root surface. The exposed root surfaces can look unsightly. Gum contouring is used to reshape the gum line and cover areas of root exposure.
Reshaping gums is also beneficial after orthodontic treatment with braces or aligners. Once teeth are straight, the gumline may need recontouring to match the new alignment. Dr. Abraham can expertly adjust any uneven gum line position for a natural look after orthodontia. Finally, when getting veneers or dental crowns, gum contouring creates ideal gum positioning to integrate seamlessly with the new restorations.
The Reshaping Process
At Executive Dentistry, gum reshaping procedures are performed by Dr. Abraham, a highly-trained periodontist and cosmetic dentist. He uses advanced techniques and technology to expertly recontour gum tissues.
The process generally involves numbing the area completely using local anesthesia to keep patients comfortable. Dr. Abraham then utilizes dental lasers or scalpels to carefully and precisely remove, sculpt, and reposition the gum tissues along the tooth and smile line. Lasers allow outstanding accuracy and control for removing only tiny amounts of tissue.
If any tooth root surfaces have become exposed to gum recession, Dr. Abraham may cover these areas with small gum tissue grafts to regenerate the protective gum coating over the root. Precision sutures are used to hold grafted tissues in place. The entire gumline area is meticulously contoured by Dr. Abraham for optimal aesthetics and natural-looking results.
Healing After the Procedure
The recovery time after professional gum reshaping at Executive Dentistry is generally quick and comfortable. Patients can expect very little downtime or pain from the procedure.
Some temporary swelling and sensitivity in the reshaped area may be noticed during the first couple of days following treatment. These mild side effects typically resolve fully within about 1 week as the gums heal.
Complete healing of the contoured gums takes approximately 1-2 weeks. Dr. Abraham provides detailed oral hygiene instructions to keep the area clean while healing. He may also recommend using an antibacterial or antimicrobial mouth rinse during recovery to protect the gums. Normal dental hygiene routines can typically be resumed about 2 weeks after gum contouring procedures. It is important to allow complete healing before vigorous brushing to avoid disturbing sutures or newly placed grafts.
Keeping Your New Gumline Looking Great
To sustain the aesthetic results of the gum contouring surgery long-term, Dr. Abraham provides these recommendations:
- Maintain excellent oral hygiene to prevent gum disease which may distort the new gumline shape over time
- Attend regular dental cleanings and exams at Executive Dentistry to monitor your gums
- Minor touch-up procedures may be needed in the future as gums naturally shift
- Avoid behaviors that recession the gums such as smoking and chewing on hard items
With proper care as instructed, patients can enjoy their tailored, beautiful new gumline for years to come. Contact Executive Dentistry in Dearborn, MI today to schedule an initial exam with Dr. Abraham to determine if you are a candidate for gum contouring and reshaping procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most patients can return to work the next day after their gum contouring procedure. However, let your dentist know if your job duties require extensive talking or frequent movement of the lips and cheeks, as this could disrupt healing. They may recommend taking a day or two off in these cases for the best recovery.
When performed properly by a highly skilled cosmetic dentist, reshaping the gums has very minimal side effects. There may be some temporary increased sensitivity or swelling as the contoured area initially heals. However, with proper oral care and follow-up after the procedure, the new gum contours are sustainable long-term and no major negative effects occur.
Be sure to avoid extremely hot, spicy, or crunchy foods that could irritate or injure the freshly contoured gums which will be sensitive. Use ice packs as directed to help reduce swelling or discomfort. Carefully take any prescribed medication as directed to aid healing. And strictly follow all postoperative instructions from your dentist for cleaning the area and caring for your new gum contours.
Your dentist likely recommends refraining from strenuous exercise for at least 1 full week after your gum contouring. This recovery time allows complete initial healing of the gums without disruption or impact. Light physical activity can often be resumed after just a few days. Be sure to ask your dentist at your follow-up visit when your normal exercise routine can be safely resumed based on your healing.
Bring Your Smile Out with Executive Dentistry
Imagine finally smiling with real confidence because you feel great about your gumline. Our experienced dental team deeply understands the emotions associated with smile dissatisfaction. We use advanced contouring techniques to carefully reshape your gums, revealing the gorgeous smile you deserve.
We empower patients from Dearborn and the surrounding areas of Detroit, Allen Park, and Taylor MI to smile widely with self-assurance every day. You deserve to feel confident and love your smile. Don’t wait another day feeling embarrassed by a gummy smile. Call Executive Dentistry at (313) 914-4440 now to schedule a consultation. Our caring staff listens and explains how customized gum reshaping can enhance your natural beauty.