A beautiful smile means more than straight, white teeth; your gums play an important role in balance and proportion. If you feel your smile looks "gummy" or uneven, gum recontouring (also called gum reshaping or gingival contouring) can create a more harmonious appearance by sculpting the gumline. This quick, minimally invasive cosmetic procedure can dramatically enhance your smile and boost your confidence.
At Adler Advanced Dentistry in Boulder, CO, Dr. Michael Adler and his highly trained team use state-of-the-art technology and advanced techniques to provide exceptional cosmetic and restorative dental care, including gum recontouring. Dr. Adler combines his extensive expertise in neuromuscular and cosmetic dentistry with a personalized, comprehensive approach to help every patient achieve a balanced, healthy, and beautiful smile.
What Is Gum Recontouring?
Gum recontouring is a cosmetic procedure to reshape or remove extra gum tissue, improving the appearance of your teeth and gums. Some patients naturally have more visible gum tissue, while others develop uneven gumlines due to genetics, medications, or periodontal (gum) disease. Using precise techniques, often with a soft-tissue laser, Dr. Adler can gently remove excess tissue, reshape the gumline, and show more of your natural tooth structure.
Benefits of Gum Recontouring
Gum recontouring offers both aesthetic and health benefits. Patients choose this treatment for reasons such as:
- Improved smile symmetry:Â Creates a more balanced, proportionate look between teeth and gums.
- Enhanced confidence:Â A more even gumline can make your smile appear healthier and more attractive.
- Better oral hygiene:Â Removing excess gum tissue can make it easier to clean along the gumline, reducing plaque buildup and inflammation.
- Customized results:Â Your dentist tailors the procedure to match your facial features and smile goals.
Whether you want to reduce a "gummy smile" or refine uneven gumlines around crowns or veneers, gum recontouring provides a subtle yet transformative improvement.
The Gum Recontouring Procedure
Dr. Adler will remove and reshape targeted areas of gum tissue using the soft-tissue diode laser. The energy from the laser vaporizes tissue, so it's completely painless. Laser energy also reduces bleeding because it seals off blood vessels as it removes the tissue.
For about a week after the treatment, you may have some gum sensitivity and swelling. An over-the-counter pain reliever is typically strong enough to alleviate any discomfort. You may want to eat soft foods while your gums heal. Dr. Adler and our team will provide you with comprehensive aftercare instructions to help you recover successfully.
Gum Recontouring for Gummy Smiles
Inherited traits, such as small teeth, excess gum tissue, or a shorter lip, can cause a gummy smile. Even if you have been living with this smile trait for years, it may be making you feel less happy with your smile. Dr. Adler uses advanced laser dentistry to perform gum recontouring that is dramatically less invasive than scalpel methods of the past. Some of the advantages of using lasers are:
- No incisions, no sutures
- Laser cauterizes as it cuts, which minimizes bleeding
- Enhanced precision
- Symmetrical results
- Has a gum-lifting effect
The only way to know if the procedure is a good fit for your goals is to visit Dr. Adler. He'll make sure you know all of your options moving forward and what to expect from each.
Gum Recontouring After Invisalign® or Orthodontic Treatment
After orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign®, although you may be really happy with your straight teeth, you may also realize there's still something left to be desired. Our dentist may use gum recontouring after orthodontic treatment to achieve the best possible smile results. Evening the gum line creates the symmetrical, pleasing smile you were aiming for with orthodontic treatment. Dr. Adler can also reshape the edges of your teeth to address tooth wear that detracts from your Invisalign® results.
Why Choose Adler Advanced Dentistry for Gum Recontouring?
Choosing the right dentist for gum recontouring can make all the difference in achieving precise, natural-looking results. At Adler Advanced Dentistry in Boulder, CO, Dr. Michael Adler and his experienced team are committed to providing advanced, patient-centered care using the latest technology and techniques.
Dr. Adler's extensive training at the renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) equips him with exceptional expertise in cosmetic and neuromuscular dentistry, allowing him to approach your gum contouring with both artistry and precision. Each treatment is customized to your smile's unique proportions, ensuring a harmonious balance between your teeth and gums.
At our state-of-the-art Boulder office, patients from Denver, Ft. Collins, and surrounding Colorado areas benefit from a comfortable, holistic approach that prioritizes your oral health and aesthetic goals. Our philosophy is rooted in education and empowerment; we'll explain all of your options clearly, so you can be confident in your care.
Frequently Asked Questions
There isn't any preparation necessary.
These can be quite quick if Dr. Adler is addressing a couple of teeth, or they can take longer for a full smile. Generally, gum recontouring takes anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour.
Following your gum recontouring with Dr. Adler, your gums may be sore and slightly swollen for a few days. The discomfort is minimal, however, and won't preclude you from eating or drinking normally. You'll need to avoid overly spicy foods and foods with seeds for a few days, but that's about it. Ibuprofen will handle any discomfort. The difference between our use of lasers for these treatments compared to the old methods of scalpels and sutures is nothing short of amazing.
For the first couple of days after your treatment with Dr. Adler, avoid brushing the gum line. You won't reopen the incisions, but they will be sensitive. But after they calm down, you can care for your gums as you normally would.
What does that involve? Twice-daily brushing with a soft-bristle toothbrush and ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste, and flossing once a day are all you'll need to do. The ADA has approved electric toothbrushes, making them a great option for keeping your teeth and gums in top shape. You'll want to brush along your gum line at a 45-degree angle upward on the upper teeth and downward on the lower teeth. This angle helps remove any food debris while lightly scrubbing the gums and teeth. It's important to lightly brush your gums every time you brush your teeth, as this helps keep plaque off of them and stimulates the gum tissue. Flossing is also important for cleaning just under the gum line between the teeth and stimulating this gum tissue.
Our gum recontouring patients at Adler wonder whether they'll need this procedure again, but that's not a concern. Your new, higher, scalloped gum line created by Dr. Adler is permanent. The excess gum tissue he has removed will not regenerate, so you'll enjoy your new smile for the rest of your life.
Compared to the excessive bleeding and risk of infection that accompanied gum recontouring done with a scalpel, there is very little risk with laser gum contouring. The laser energy provides a precise cut, cauterizes the tissue instantly to minimize bleeding, and simplifies the procedure.
Get a Beautiful, Balanced Smile with Gum Recontouring in Boulder, CO
To find out whether gum recontouring with soft-tissue laser technology can produce the smile you want and help you be the most confident, please call Adler Advanced Dentistry at 303-449-1119 or contact us online today. Experienced cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Adler serves all of Boulder and the nearby areas, and your initial consultation is complimentary.
