Is Gum Contouring Painful? What to Expect During and After the Procedure

Every person is born with unique features, and the gum line is no exception. Some people have lots of gum tissue that can appear thick as it hugs the teeth, while others have thinner gum tissue. Some gum lines sit high on the teeth, others sit low,  and some fall somewhere in between. Gum lines also vary in symmetry, with some looking mostly symmetrical and others having a more asymmetrical appearance.

While our team at White and Haines Advanced Dentistry believes every smile is beautiful in its own way, it is perfectly normal and common to feel self-conscious or unhappy with the appearance of your smile or an aspect of your smile, such as your gum line. That's why we're proud to provide comprehensive advanced cosmetic dentistry solutions, such as gum contouring treatments designed to help patients achieve their ideal smile while balancing their features and enhancing their look.

What Is Gum Reshaping? Understanding Gum Contouring

Gum contouring, also called gum reshaping, is a dental treatment designed to reshape or sculpt the gum line. Gum contouring can involve removing excessive gum tissue from around the teeth with a soft tissue laser (We use the Odyssey Diode Laser.), restoring damaged or significantly receded gum tissue with gum grafting, or a combination of both.

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The procedure involves using a highly precise soft tissue laser to remove excessive, diseased, or dead gingival tissue. If gum grafting is needed, then our dentist will use the laser to take gum tissue samples from other areas inside the patient's mouth to support tissue regeneration in the targeted treatment area. 

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Depending on the specific treatment plan, sutures might be placed to hold the treated gum tissues in place during the healing process. 

When Gum Contouring Might Be Recommended

Gum contouring is often performed for cosmetic purposes to enhance the smile's appearance, balance, and symmetry. However, gum contouring can also be recommended to address oral health concerns and restore the smile. 

Gum contouring can be used to address concerns such as:

• Excessive gingival display (gummy smile)
• Asymmetrical gum line
• Periodontal disease (gum disease) management
• Severe gum recession

If you have experienced any of these oral health concerns, our dentist can help you determine if laser gum contouring is the right treatment option for you. 

Why Gum Care Is Essential: The Importance of Gum Health

Most people tend to think about their oral health and the general health of their body as two separate concerns. Oral health and overall wellness, however, are closely connected. Individuals with good oral health are less likely to develop a variety of systemic diseases that can significantly impact health and well-being.

For example, unmanaged periodontal disease can increase the risk of health problems such as dementia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory infections, rheumatoid arthritis, and certain types of cancer. Poor oral health can even lead to reproductive health problems. 

Laser gum contouring can help improve your gum health for better overall health. For patients who have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, laser treatment removes dead and diseased tissues while sterilizing the treatment area, helping to reduce the harmful bacteria that cause periodontal disease and the related systemic health problems. 

Is Gum Contouring Painful? Common Experiences During the Gum Treatment Procedure

While laser gum contouring is a surgical procedure, it is designed to be less painful and less invasive than traditional treatment methods that used scalpels. Laser gum contouring helps to reduce bleeding, swelling, and the risk of infection after treatment for an overall accelerated and more pleasant recovery experience.

What to Expect During the Procedure

We ensure that patients are comfortable throughout the in-office gum contouring procedure with the administration of local anesthetic. This completely numbs the treatment area, eliminating pain and discomfort during the procedure.

We also offer sedation dentistry and holistic relaxation options for patients who need a little additional help staying calm and reducing anxiety during dental treatments. While anesthetics prevent treatment discomfort, sedation dentistry helps support a calm and relaxing experience. 

Gum Reshaping Aftercare and Recovery

Once the local anesthetic wears off after a gum contouring procedure, it is normal to experience some pain, tenderness, and/or numbness in the gum tissues. Some patients also experience a mild, temporary tooth sensitivity. The duration and severity of these side effects depend on the extent of the procedure. The more gum tissue that was removed, the more significant the recovery symptoms usually are. Depending on the extent of the procedure, recovery can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. 

Our dentists will provide you with personalized aftercare and recovery instructions. However, patients can generally expect the following recommendations. 

Immediate Post-Procedure Care

Immediately following the procedure, keep your head elevated to reduce swelling. After the anesthetic has worn off, most patients find adequate pain relief with over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. 

For the first few days after your procedure, eat soft, mild, cool foods. Avoid foods and beverages that could irritate your sensitive gum tissues, such as anything hot, spicy, acidic, hard, or chewy. 

If you received an antibiotic mouth rinse, be sure to follow the instructions for administration.

Ongoing Healing and Gum Health Maintenance

As you continue to heal, maintaining good oral health while minimizing irritation to your gum tissues will be vital to a successful, swift healing process. 

You should continue brushing and flossing during recovery while being extra careful around the treatment area. Be sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and avoid directly brushing the treated gum tissues. Additionally, do not floss the treated tissues. Direct contact with your toothbrush or floss could damage the healing tissues, slowing the recovery process. 

How Cosmetic Dentistry Boosts Confidence and Quality of Life

Did you know that contracting the muscles used to smile can trigger the release of endorphins in the brain? These natural chemicals make you feel happier and calmer and can even help to reduce physical pain and improve physical health. If you don't feel relaxed, happy, and confident about showing off your smile, it can significantly reduce your quality of life — especially if you develop the habit of hampering and hiding your smile. 

Cosmetic dentistry treatments, like laser gum contouring, can help you address and correct the aspects of your smile that make you feel uncomfortable while helping you create a smile you feel happy and confident to show off. 

Laser Dentistry: How Gum Contouring in Cornelius Can Transform Your Smile

Laser gum contouring is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that is designed to produce a low-pain experience and swift recovery for patients. While the recovery is minimal, the results are maximal, and completely transform your smile, boost your confidence, and restore your quality of life.

If you're unhappy with the look or health of your gums, we encourage you to contact White and Haines Advanced Dentistry to request a gum contouring consultation. Our dentists can talk with you about your concerns and smile goals to recommend a personalized treatment plan designed to meet your needs while helping you achieve your smile goals. 

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