Gum Recontouring
An ideal solution for people with a gummy smile
Gum recontouring is most commonly carried out when an individual has a particularly gummy smile, where there is a greater proportion of gum tissue covering the teeth.
This gummy smile can make the teeth look short and square. Generally, this condition is developmental or genetic but may also be caused by certain medications or health conditions. The process of gum recontouring is very simple and relatively painless.
Nowadays gum recontouring is carried out under local anaesthetic with electro surgery or laser tissue removal. Occasionally, there may be instances when small amounts of bone (osteoplasty) may need to be gently removed; you would be advised of this at your assessment. It is the bone which acts as a framework for the gums and sometimes it can be very thick and bulky.
Healing is swift with lasers and electro surgery, taking just a few short weeks. If veneers or crowns are planned on these teeth, it is best to wait six weeks following just gum recontouring or up to three months if bone/osteoplasty is performed.