Do Dentists Do Gum Contouring?

The shape, size, color, and other aspects of your gums play a major role in the appearance of your smile. Apart from making you feel embarrassed and self-conscious about your smile, gum misalignments and other issues can contribute to oral health problems.

If you don’t like how your gums look, gum contouring is a reliable and cost-effective solution to reshape your gums for a healthier and more beautiful smile. In this article, let’s learn what gum contouring is, the procedure, and aftercare tips for quick recovery.

What is Gum contouring?

Gum contouring can also be referred to as gum reshaping, gum tissue sculpting, or gingival contouring. It’s a surgical procedure of reshaping or resculpting the gum line. The procedure entails cutting or removing excess gum tissues around teeth.

Many factors can cause your gums to be excess, uneven, too low, or too high. These include genetics, health problems, prescription drugs, and gum recession or gum disease.

In most cases, gum contouring is used for cosmetic purposes to improve the appearance of your gums, teeth, and smile. Therefore, the procedure is primarily elective and thus not medically necessary.

However, sometimes you can use it for oral health reasons. We offer gum contouring in Merrimack, NH.

Can Dentists Perform Gum Contouring?

Many general dentists can perform gum contouring. Before having the procedure, ensure your dentist has the experience and expertise to perform the procedure. Sometimes, your general dentist can refer you to a periodontist (a gum specialist).

Gum Contouring Surgery: What to Expect

Before the procedure, the dentist or periodontist will begin by examining your condition. Then, they will discuss your needs and details about what they will be doing during the procedure. They may show images of how your gums and smile will look after the procedure.

During the surgery, the dentist will begin by numbing you to keep you pain-free throughout the procedure. Then, they will use lasers, scalpels, or to reshape and remove excess gum tissues. Visit our office for gum contouring near you.

Gum Contouring Aftercare Tips

Since you’ll be under anesthesia before the procedure, you won’t feel any pain until after the procedure, when the anesthesia wears off. The severity of the discomfort or swelling will depend on how much gums were removed or reshaped.

Sometimes, the dentist will prescribe pain, inflammation, and antibiotic medications to manage these symptoms for quick recovery. They might also give you other aftercare tips to facilitate faster healing and recovery. These include:

• Take medication as prescribed or take an over-the-counter medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to manage pain. Avoid aspirin as it can cause bleeding.
• Use a cold compress on your mouth to reduce pain and swelling. Apply the compress for about 15 minutes at a time.
• Rest adequately. Limit strenuous activities like exercises or heavy lifting for the next few days to give your body time to heal. Strenuous activities can cause pressure around the treated area, resulting in pain, swelling, and even bleeding.
• For the next few days, eat a soft, cool, and non-spicy diet such as pasta, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, soft vegetables, and ice cream. These foods are gentle on your gums but also nutritious. Avoid hard, chewy, spicy, and crunchy food items as they can irritate or disturb the treated gums worsening your pain and swelling.
• Hydrate adequately. It promotes faster healing and washes away bacteria and debris from the mouth to prevent infections and plaque.
• Follow your dentist’s instructions about how and when to resume normal brushing and flossing.
• Avoid tobacco products. Tobacco can slow wound healing, increasing your risk of infections and other complications.
• Follow your dentist’s follow-up appointments. They are necessary to monitor the progress of your treatment.
• Notify your dentist if you experience severe symptoms like persistent pain, bleeding, swelling, or fever.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Are you ready to transform your smile with gum contouring surgery in Merrimack, NH? Contact Yelena Popkova, DDS – Merrimack, for more information.