Many people gravitate towards cosmetic dentistry to improve the appearance of their teeth—but did you know that it can also be used to make your gums appear more symmetrical and charming? If you have excessive gum tissue or an uneven gumline, you might benefit from a treatment known as gum recontouring, which can completely transform your gums and, by proxy, your whole smile. If you’re ready to schedule an appointment or you have questions about how gum recontouring works, just contact our Temple office today!

Gum recontouring is a common procedure that involves creating a more balanced gumline, often by reshaping and removing excess tissue to create a more symmetrical appearance. Unlike many other types of cosmetic treatments, many of which can require replacements or touch-ups down the road, gum recontouring is permanent, since the removed tissue won’t grow back once it’s removed.

The very first step of the gum recontouring process is to numb your mouth with a local anesthetic, so that you don’t feel any discomfort during the procedure. However, since a soft tissue laser is used, things are much gentler and safer to begin with compared to traditional methods, which involved the use of a scalpel.
Once you’re comfortable, the laser tool is used to carefully remove excess or overgrown tissue, which reveals more of your teeth’s surfaces underneath and evens out your gumline. During the process, the laser only targets designated areas, so rest assured, any surrounding tissue will be left alone. The laser also cauterizes while it works, which drastically reduces the amount of bleeding and swelling that occurs afterward. This also helps to sterilize the area, lessening the chances of developing an infection once the treatment is complete.

Almost all cosmetic dental treatments are focused on improving the appearance of your smile—and while gum recontouring can certainly do this, the benefits don’t stop there. Some others include: