A dental specialist may perform a technique called gum contouring to reshape or sculpt your gumline. Gum contouring includes trimming away or eliminating extra gum tissue from the area surrounding your teeth. Gum tissue is restored during the surgery if you have gum recession.

Why Gum Contouring?

Gum contouring is frequently carried for for aesthetic reasons. But occasionally, it could be necessary for medical reasons. Gum contouring could be a therapy for periodontal disease. However, your dentist will initially use nonsurgical methods to treat the gum disease. It could also involve dental cleanings to improve gum health or medications to eradicate the infection and germs. Your dentist can suggest a procedure like pocket reduction surgery on the gums and surrounding bone to save a tooth if these efforts are unsuccessful. For injured bone and gum tissue to regenerate, you could also require a regeneration therapy. These operations could include gum contouring. If so, dental insurance could pay the bill in full or in part if it's determined to be a medical necessity. To learn what is covered and whether there are any out-of-pocket costs, you must consult with your dental insurance company.

Process of Gum Contouring

Periodontists or cosmetic dentists are often the ones that do gum contouring. A single office visit is normally required to complete the operation. You'll typically be awake throughout the process. You'll be given local anaesthetic to make the region around your gums numb before the doctor begins. The dentist will reshape the gumline to reveal more of the tooth during the operation by removing extra gum tissue with a soft tissue laser or a scalpel. The gum tissue may be fixed in place with the aid of sutures. Your doctor will take tissue from another area of your mouth, maybe your palate, if your gums recede and the operation requires adding gum tissue. In order to prolong and rebuild your gumline, surgery binds this tissue around your teeth. The degree of contouring and the amount of resculpting required will determine how long the process takes. Gum contouring typically takes one to two hours. Before the surgery begins, local anaesthetic will be administered to you. Your gums will go numb as a result, making it painless for you to have dental treatment. But later, you can have some sensitivity and numbness. Depending on how much of your gums have to be altered or removed, there may be discomfort. Your doctor may recommend a painkiller after the procedure, or you can buy it over-the-counter like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). Your doctor might advise against taking aspirin since it can result in bleeding. Applying an ice pack or cold compress to your mouth for a few days following the treatment will also help to minimise discomfort and swelling. The compress should ideally be used for 15 to 20 minutes at a time.

Gum contouring has short recovery time, however depending on the scope of the procedure, full recovery might take days or weeks. Depending on how you feel and any potential soreness, you might need to restrict some activities for a day or two. For around 2 to 3 days following the operation, you should only consume soft foods since your gums and mouth may first feel sensitive or irritated. Foods like: might be included in this. soupsyogurtsapplesauce Jell-O In addition to giving you post-surgery dietary recommendations, your doctor will also let you know if there are any items you should avoid while you're healing. Following the treatment, you'll normally have a follow-up appointment within a few days or a week. Your doctor will examine your gums to assess your level of healing and search for indications of an infection. To lower the chance of infection, they could recommend an antibiotic mouthwash. Increased discomfort, swelling, and gum discharge are indications of infection.