If you have a smile that appears to be too “gummy” or teeth that seem too short or stubby, you may be considering improving it with a treatment called gum recontouring. This procedure eliminates excess tissue around the base of the teeth that could be throwing your smile off balance, making it appear broader, brighter, and more symmetrical. Here’s a closer look at how gum recontouring works, and how treatment with a soft-tissue laser provides incredible results that traditional methods simply can’t touch!
What is Gum Recontouring?
Gum recontouring is a procedure that removes excess gum tissue from around the bases of the teeth to make them appear larger and more symmetrical with the rest of the face. Traditionally performed with a scalpel and requiring sutures to heal incisions, this treatment can now be done with a soft-tissue laser for enhanced precision and comfort.
In addition to its cosmetic benefits, gum recontouring also has oral health perks, too, such as easier flossing, which can in turn lower your risk of developing gum disease and tooth decay.
What are the Benefits of Using the Soft Tissue Laser for Gum Recontouring?
While traditional gum recontouring procedures relied on a scalpel to cut away excess tissue and sutures to keep the altered areas clean, today’s soft-tissue laser can now provide enhanced comfort and accuracy over this dated method. That’s because instead of cutting the tissue, it uses a beam of concentrated light to vaporize it, making it more precise than a scalpel. Plus, the heat generated from the light means your incisions shouldn’t need stitches, since the laser cauterizes as it cuts. This results in a much faster and more comfortable recovery, including less swelling and bleeding immediately after treatment.
Laser Versus Scalpel: Which is Best?
Although traditional surgery with a scalpel and sutures is still a perfectly safe, effective way to get the smile you desire, most patients prefer the enhanced precision and shorter, more comfortable healing times associated with the soft-tissue laser. To learn more about gum recontouring and to see if treatment with the soft-tissue laser is ideal for your smile, schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist today.
About Our Practice
At Sound Dentistry, we are proud to offer a variety of smile-improving cosmetic dentistry treatments using the latest in dental technology. Devices like the soft-tissue laser provide more precise, comfortable results that can create the look you desire with a faster, easier recovery time. To learn more about gum recontouring treatment with the soft-tissue laser, schedule a consultation with your dentist today by visiting our website or calling 508-321-7874.