Is Gum Contouring Painful?

The short answer is that gum contouring or gum reshaping is not a painful procedure. Let’s look at why you would consider this dental procedure, the procedure itself and when you can expect some discomfort through the experience.

A Cosmetic Correction of a Gummy Smile

A smile can define an individual. A smile can be a foundational element of an individual’s mental health having a great deal to do with the self-confidence and self-esteem of the person. A smile is always seen as a mouthful of pearly white teeth. Often times though an individual can have more soft tissue visible than the crowns of the teeth. This negative perception makes the teeth look short and stubby. A perfect smile should have two to three millimeters of soft tissue showing. If the amount of gums increases to four millimeters or more you develop an imbalance of gum to tooth. There is nothing functionally wrong, just the negative perception it creates. Therefore, the corrective procedure is cosmetic in nature.

The Gum Contouring Procedure

There is no pain experienced during the procedure itself. Whether the tool to trim the unwanted tissue is a dental laser or a surgical scalpel, the soft tissue involved will be numbed with a local anesthetic prior to beginning. The procedure itself is nothing more than trimming away the excessive tissue to expose more of the tooth or teeth. At times gum contouring can have medical implications if there was gum disease or deep pockets to remove around the teeth.

The Healing and Recovery Process

If you were to feel any pain it would be after the procedure. The gums will be sore and swollen and the amount of discomfort will be related to the amount of tissue removed and the pain threshold of the patient. The discomfort will diminish within a day or two with full healing in seven to ten days. Over the counter pain relievers will be adequate to deal with the discomfort. A saline rinse will improve the healing as well. You will be advised to not smoke or consume alcohol and to lean towards a diet of soft foods. You will also be given instructions on how to brush your teeth and gums during the healing period.

The Benefits of Gum Contouring

As mentioned earlier, the smile is an asset we all own and the smile defines an individual personality. The smile is an asset that is very difficult to put a dollar sign on when it comes to identifying its value. The change with this procedure is immediate. The change in the smile is obvious and the perception that comes with it. The health industry strongly suggests that you value that smile moving forward. The standard is to brush your teeth twice a day and to floss at least once. Then you take these solid at-home oral hygiene habits and match them up with twice a year examinations with your dentist and complete the care with a professional cleaning in the office and that smile will continue to light up rooms as you enter.

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