Gum Contouring

Reshape Your Smile with Gum Contouring

If you have excess gum tissue, gum contouring may be the way to get the smile you’ve always wanted. Also known as gum reshaping, gum lifting, or crown lengthening, gum contouring can reshape your gums to enhance your smile. Many patients who choose dental veneers for smile enhancement also choose gum contouring to give them a more stunning and perfectly framed smile.

Benefits of Gum Contouring

• Changes a "gummy" smile  

• Repairs gums damaged by Periodontal disease

• Can make short teeth appear longer

• Can show off your teeth rather than your gums

• Boosts your confidence through a beautiful smile

How Gum Contouring Works

During the gum contouring procedure, our dental specialist carefully sculpts the gums and sometimes the underlying bone to uncover the full surface of the teeth. This is done to create a symmetrical gum line that perfectly frames your beautiful smile. Our team will work with you prior to your procedure to determine how you’d like your new gum line to look.  

Gum Contouring for Oral Health

Though many of our patients want gum contouring to improve the appearance of their smile, your dentist may also refer you for other reasons. For example, if you have a tooth fracture or cavity below the gum line, gum contouring can reduce the amount of tissue in the area of the problem. This will give your dentist better access to the site for treatment and, if necessary, can make it easier to place a dental restoration.

Gum Grafting for Receding Gums

If one or more of your teeth appear longer than the others, it is possible you’re experiencing receding gums. Receding gums can not only detract from the appearance of your smile, but may also be an indication of more significant oral health concerns. Gum recession can make it easier to develop plaque and cavities in the root of the tooth, a problem that often requires more than a simple filling. Gum recession can also be a sign that you are losing tooth-supporting bone beneath the surface.

Common Causes of Receding Gums

Some common causes of receding gums include:  

• Aggressive teeth brushing  

• Poor oral hygiene  

• Naturally “thin” gum tissue

• Tooth crowding  

• An outward position of the teeth  

• Uneven and heavy biting forces  

• Genetics.  

While gum recession is the most visible sign of damage, you will also be experiencing bone loss beneath the surface of your gums. Without intervention, damage can eventually lead to tooth loss.

The Solution: Gum Grafts

We use gum grafts, a type of soft tissue graft, to cover roots or build up gum tissue that has been lost due to excessive gingival recession. Grafts can not only improve the beauty of your smile and protect roots but can also lead to reduced sensitivity while slowing gum recession and bone loss.

Benefits of Soft Tissue (Gum) Grafting

• REGENERATE BONE GROWTH

Gum tissue grafts have been shown to not only aid in long-term tooth protection, but also to generate bone growth.

• HEALTHY GUMLINE

Gum issues often have both health and aesthetic consequences. Gum tissue grafts create a healthy and protective gumline that improves the overall appearance of your teeth while also helping them remain healthy and strong.

• DEPENDABLE ROOT COVERAGE

Exposed roots lead to pain and potential loss of the exposed tooth. Gum tissue grafts prevent root exposure and help to minimize the risk of future damage in the treated area.

• REDUCE TOOTH LOSS