Not everybody is happy with their smiles, and that’s a simple fact of life. We strive for perfection in our health, especially in such an easily detectable way like teeth. A white smile is much better for a first impression than defensively hiding some less than ideal chompers.
But then, what about the area surrounding the teeth? Our gums also play a huge factor in our smile, with genetics dictating how high or low our gums rest. The team at www.golsendental.com states that gum contouring is a procedure where a laser is used to contour the gums around the teeth. This means that even if your gums are too high up or have receded due to stressors like medication or simple genetics, you can have your gums changed to give your smile an overall much more flattering look.
If you don’t like the way your gums are sitting in your mouth, here’s what you need to know about gum contouring:
It’s a cosmetic procedure.
Unlike most dental procedures that have clear and obvious benefits to long-term oral health, gum contouring is a largely cosmetic procedure. People choose to go for this procedure to regain confidence in their smile. It’s a procedure based on increasing the subjective aesthetics of your gum line and how they frame your teeth. If your gums are causing you serious mental distress, then it can be worth going to your dentist’s office to undergo this approach. Just know that it isn’t typically a medically essential procedure.
How much do you want to be changed?
If you’re simply going in to change your gum line by a tiny amount, consider more natural ways to change your gum line. For instance, receding gums might simply be a byproduct of poor brushing technique that doesn’t give enough focus to the gums themselves. If a few weeks of proper brushing doesn’t bring your teeth back to a place you’d like, then it’s worth considering professional gum contouring.
When it comes to minor imperfections, gum contouring isn’t necessarily the best course of action. However, if you want a significant change in where your gums sit, then the procedure will be necessary to achieve that goal. How high your gums sit can give the illusion of your teeth being bigger or smaller than they really are, so make sure to carefully consider what you want, and that the end result is truly something you find desirable.
Recovery time
Like just about everything done at the dentist, there’s recovery time associated with this procedure. For a few weeks, you’ll have to let your gums heal from being contoured. This is easily managed, but might require some over-the-counter pain relief medication to make things a bit more bearable. Avoiding soft foods and smoking are the top tips to recover as quick and hassle-free as possible.
Conclusion
If you’re sufficiently disenfranchised with how your gums frame your overall smile, then gum contouring might be right up your alley. If you’re erring on the side of being a perfectionist and want the tiniest of measurements changed, then you should probably consider other ways to improve your smile. Talking to your dentist will be the best way of fully assessing what they can do for you, and if it would be worthwhile to go through with the procedure.