What to Know About Gum Reshaping

A healthy smile can go a long way toward not only pleasing the eye but also benefitting a person’s confidence in themselves, improving self-esteem, and contributing positively toward emotional health. Even with a healthy, beautiful smile, however, that built up confidence can be difficult to produce when a person has uneven gums.

Fortunately, there are cosmetic procedures, including gum reshaping, available for those interested in taking those steps toward improving their oral health and gum health. Whether for medical or therapeutic purposes, these procedures can go a long way toward improving your confidence and self-esteem.

Gum reshaping is largely for patients with uneven gums or gums that cover too much of the teeth, often caused by genes or even certain medications. The result is the appearance of the teeth being smaller than they should be or what is known as a gummy smile. This procedure can also be appropriate for cases of receded gums where too much of the patient’s teeth surface is exposed.

On the other hand, periodontal gum reshaping is largely a medical procedure for countering gingival infections, tooth loss, decay, or periodontal disease triggered by gum irregularities. Receded gums leave the teeth vulnerable, and the pockets in between teeth are the perfect place for bacteria to gather. Gum reshaping eliminates these and seals the tissue to avoid future issues.

For this procedure, patients go to a qualified dentist/periodontist office and receive a slight local anesthetic for numbing their gums. The dentist/periodontist will use a soft tissue laser to strip away the extra gum tissue though crown lengthening also helps with gummy smiles. The laser recontours and then seals the tissue to produce the right shape and stop any ongoing bleeding. Dentists can use the laser to eliminate gaps that could trap bacteria, thereby preventing future infections as well.

In terms of how much this procedure costs, it depends largely on how severe the problem is. The costs for reshaping can range between $600-2,000 for one tooth. While it can vary, not all insurance companies will cover part of the costs, as gum reshaping can be deemed a cosmetic procedure. Some might assist with costs if there is a medical benefit to be had from the treatment.

Once your gums have been reshaped, you must continue to practice good oral hygiene after the procedure. Daily flossing and brushing will need to be done more gently, so you can avoid hurting your sensitive tissue until the gums have healed fully. If not, the gums could bleed and develop an infection. Using a cleansing mouth rinse that kills many germs on contact, sans burning alcohol, is recommended as well for recovering patients.

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