A great-looking smile is a healthy smile. Yet so much emphasis is placed on the teeth that patients often fail to consider another important part of the smile: the gums. The soft tissues of the mouth shouldn’t be neglected or taken for granted, which is why the team at our Madison cosmetic dentistry office notes how all parts of the mouth function as a whole. Right now we’d like look at the issue of gum contouring and discuss how it can help you get the smile that you have always wanted.
Gum contouring refers to an oral surgery which alters a patient’s gumline. It can be performed in order to increase gum tissue in cases of gum recession, or it can be performed to reduce the amount of visible gum tissue if patients have smiles in which their gums are too prominent. Candidacy for either treatment will be determined by our dentists in Madison, and we’ll be sure to address all of your concerns in full detail so you understand what each treatment entails.
Let’s first look at gum contouring for smiles that are dominated by the gumline.
Soft Tissue Contouring for Gummy Smiles
Prominent gums are usually caused by genetics, though sometimes health conditions and certain medications can cause this to happen in patients.
Gum contouring in these situations will involve the precise surgical removal of gum tissue to expose more of the tooth. Dental care specialists will be careful to not expose any of the tooth’s root structure while altering the gumline. Local anesthetic is used in order to eliminate patient discomfort; patients may also undergo dental sedation if needed in order to eliminate feelings of anxiety.
Soft Tissue Contouring for Gum Recession
Gum recession refers to the loss of soft tissue along the gumline. This is often caused by gum disease, a bacterial infection of the soft tissues of the mouth, though gum recession can also be caused by advanced age, smoking, and various health conditions.
In these cases, gum contouring is an essential part of the mouth reconstruction and oral restoration process. First, any tooth decay and gum disease will need to be treated. Once that is done, soft tissue augmentation is performed. This will either involve a) the use of soft tissue from a patient’s own mouth (usually the palate) or b) artificial soft tissue grafts. Whatever the case, these will be carefully sutured into place along the patient’s gumline in order to improve tissue density.
Other Options to Consider for Enhancing Your Smile
In addition to gum contouring treatments, there are plenty of other ways that we can help you get a great smile. For example, if you have minor chips, cracks, or misalignments of the teeth, we can use Madison porcelain veneers to make your smile look its best. Multiple treatments can be combined in order to achieve a total smile makeover.
Learn More About Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry
For more information about gum contouring and other options for enhancing dental health and dental aesthetics, be sure to contact our Madison, WI cosmetic and restorative dentistry center today. The entire team at our practice looks forward to helping you achieve the best looking and healthiest smile possible.