Gum Sculpting Helps You Achieve A Natural, Even Gumline

The shape of your gums can make all the difference between a bright, confident smile and a self-conscious, insecure smile. An uneven gum line can make teeth look inconsistent, while a receding gumline exposes too much of the teeth. In both of these cases, gum sculpting is the best solution.

Let's look at gum sculpting and its benefits below.

Gum sculpting, or gum contouring or gum reshaping, is a cosmetic dental procedure that gives you a natural, even gum line. Your dentist in Boston may either remove excess gum tissue to reveal more of the tooth structure or add extra tissue to cover overexposed teeth.

Your dentist may recommend gum sculpting if you have:

• A "gummy" smile
• A receding gumline
• Pits in the gums
• Overgrown gum tissue

Gum sculpting is a painless outpatient dental procedure. First, your dentist uses a pen to outline your new gum line so you can visualize the results of the procedure.

Next, you are put through a local anesthetic to numb the mouth and gums. A laser then takes over to remove excess gum tissue or eliminate any pits or hollows that may trap bacteria and cause infections. The laser's heat automatically seals and cauterizes the wound to minimize bleeding.

Your dentist will remove tissue from the roof of your mouth or gum and attach it to your existing gum line if you need grafts to correct a receding gum line.

This procedure will require stitches, which require you to use an antimicrobial mouthwash, eat soft, cold foods and avoid brushing and flossing until your dentist says it's safe to do so. Full recovery from gum grafting takes about a month or so, depending on your general health.

The results of gum sculpting are permanent, so you can flash a confident smile for years to come. If you have any questions about gum sculpting, get in touch with Arch Street Dental for a consultation today.