Our smile is one of our most prominent features so we would all like to be confident knowing that we are showing off an attractive and healthy smile. Practicing good oral hygiene habits are helpful in avoiding major oral health problems, but there are cosmetic issues that affect the appearance of the smile and cannot be treated with regular brushing and flossing. At Dr. Robert G. Veligdan’s cosmetic dentistry practice, we perform procedures to correct cosmetic flaws and restore the beauty of our patients’ smiles. For our patients in Manhattan, gum reshaping treatment is one of the procedures available to help our patients achieve the smile they desire.
Gum reshaping, or gum contouring, is a procedure used to trim and reshape the gum line. The gum reshaping treatment is actually a simple procedure that is virtually painless. Before the procedure, a local anesthetic will be administered so that the patient feels nothing during the treatment. Then, a high-tech dental laser will be used to reshape the periodontal tissue and trim away any extra tissue overhanging the tooth. This treatment is used to correct a “gummy” smile by raising the gum line to lengthen the crowns of the teeth. The recovery from gum reshaping treatment is actually pretty quick. As the laser reshapes the gums, it works to seal the blood vessels to prevent excess bleeding and improve the healing process. For our patients in Manhattan, porcelain veneers will likely be applied after a gum shaping treatment to complete the smile restoration and leave patients with proportionate, beautiful teeth.
Gum reshaping treatment offers patients the following benefits:
Dr. Veligdan can tell you more about the benefits of gum reshaping treatment and let you know if you may be a candidate for this procedure.
Most patients who undergo gum reshaping treatment do not experience any complications. In rare cases, if too much periodontal tissue is removed, swelling may occur; this can elongate the healing process. In these cases, additional treatment may be necessary. For some patients, gum reshaping will not be enough to achieve the desired results and bone will need to be removed to improve the appearance of the teeth. This is also a simple process.
