|
|
| In
the search for the ultimate “smile makeover” it is still
possible to improve a patient’s smile where there is actually
nothing wrong with their teeth! In the case of a “gummy smile”,
the gums are simply too big or appear too big when the patient smiles.
Where gum tissue overgrows to cover more of the tooth than is desirable,
a cosmetic dental technique called gum contouring can be used. Sometimes
the gum tissue overgrows in certain sections of the mouth causing
the smile to look lopsided or uneven – in these cases, selective
gum contouring is used to “even-up” the smile. |
Gum contouring – the procedure:
|
Gum
contouring is a relatively straightforward procedure whereby a local
anesthetic is applied to the gums. A laser light is then used to
trim away excess gum tissue to lift the gum line to expose more
tooth material. Often this is done only to the front teeth that
are prominent during the patient’s smile. The gums tend to
heal quite quickly as the laser also seals the blood vessels in
the gum to minimize any bleeding. Sometimes it is necessary to employ
additional techniques in conjunction with gum contouring, for example
it may be necessary to reduce the bone at the front of the tooth
root to prevent re-growth of the gum material.
|
| Crown
Lengthening is the same procedure applied for functional instead
of (or in addition to) cosmetic reasons. |
Advantages:
# Gum
contouring is a relatively modern and accessible technique that
can quickly enhance a patient’s smile
# Pain and inconvenience is relatively slight if the technique is
performed correctly
# Gum contouring can be quite cost effective with typical process
starting from around £150 . |
Disadvantages:
# In a
small number of case where a larger quantity of gum tissue has to
be removed, there have been reports of extended healing times
# In some cases, bone reduction at the front of the tooth root may
be required to prevent re-growth of the gum material. |
|
