Is Gum Contouring Right for You?
You may have heard about gum contouring and wondered if it’s right for you. How do you feel about your gums? Do they sit as high as you would like on your teeth? Do your teeth feel exposed? With Gum contouring a dental care professional can surgically align these shapes, whether it is to lengthen/shorten gums, or to adjust the gumline across your smile.
What is your dental health history?
Have you experienced receding gums? The causes for receding gums can be twofold–on one hand over brushing is a cause. Your gums are strong vital tissue in your mouth, and when you are trying to scrub stains off your teeth, you are indirectly injuring the gum tissue at the gumline. When tissue is injured, it often contracts, leading to receding gums.
However, if you are considering gum contouring, you need to also be aware of the inverse; where infection leads to gum recession due to lack of dental hygiene. If you do not care for your dental health properly, bits of food and organic material will find its’ way into your gums, wreaking havoc and causing infection. As bacteria inflames the tissue your gums may expand, become red, puffy, pale, or shrink. Over time the tissue will lose its color and shape, as less blood is funneled through the healthy tissues of the gum. Receding gums leads to exposed tooth roots, tooth loss, and general discomfort.
Do you have a history of infections?
Gum contouring involves reshaping and altering the gums using a scalpel or high tech laser tool. In some cases the gums will need a graft of other healthy gums tissue before the procedure can be performed. You will need to monitor the site of the graft very carefully for signs of infection, and you need to practice pristine hygiene to protect against it.
After the procedure it is important to protect and monitor the area as well. It will be normal for your gums to experience pain, or inflammation immediately following the procedure. Be sure to speak with your dental care team regularly about what you are experiencing post procedure, and when you should consider additional medical treatment. If you notice blood or any discharge 72 hours after the procedure, it is probably a good idea to make a follow up appointment promptly.
Is Gum Contouring Right for you?
1. What is the state of your gums- Are you experiencing very high or very low gumlines? Is this due to disease, infection, or genetics? Do you think you will ever feel comfortable in your smile, i.e. will you “grow into” this look? If you do not feel comfortable smiling, speak to your dentist about gum contouring.
2. History of Infection- Have you been diligent about avoiding infection and caring for your teeth? Your gums? After you elevate to these kind of procedures, you really have to lock the routine in. Infections become much more dangerous and problematic post dental procedures.
3. Cost- Do you have a HSA? Do you have money set aside? Due to the cosmetic nature of this procedure, Insurance is often not willing to cover the brunt of the bill.
Begin by seeing your dental care team today and asking about gum contouring.
