If you have a "gummy" smile, you may be a good candidate for gum reshaping. A gummy smile is when you have excess gum tissue that covers your teeth, making them appear shorter than normal, which can lead to self-consciousness.

While gum reshaping is often considered to be a cosmetic fix, restoring your beautiful smile, the procedure also offers a few health benefits.

What is Gum Reshaping?

Gum reshaping is a procedure in which excess gum tissue is removed in order to expose more of the surface area of your teeth. The goal is to create a uniform, natural gum line and a beautiful smile.

Nonsurgical
Years ago, gum reshaping was done surgically, with a scalpel. This would result in a long recovery time, pain, discomfort and bleeding. Now, however, the procedure is nonsurgical, with the assistance of a laser. The laser cauterizes as it cuts, greatly reducing bleeding, swelling, pain and your overall recovery time. Most patients are back to normal activities within a day.

Benefits of Gum Reshaping

Gum reshaping offers a few different benefits. Its obvious benefit is that is gives you a beautiful smile, helping you to regain confidence. Its other major benefit, is health related. Removing excess gum tissue helps to prevent gum disease. Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue. Bacteria attack your gums, causing them to become irritated and inflamed.

Inflammation causes your gum tissue to pull away from your teeth, creating pockets for the bacteria, as well as food particles, to fall below. These pockets are too deep to be reached by your toothbrush or floss, so bacteria continue to multiply. The pockets grow deeper, and your teeth and jawbone are at risk. Eventually, severe gum disease can lead to tooth loss.

By reshaping your gums, and getting rid of excess gum tissue, you not only get a beautiful smile, you also take steps to help prevent gum disease. Contact our office if gum reshaping is right for you.