Gum Recontouring – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Upgrading Your Smile’s Proportions
When you look at your smile in the mirror, do you like what you see? Many people describe their smile as “too gummy” or that their teeth are “too short.” For years, this was a problem that you simply had to live with. Now, thanks to modern dentistry, Dr. Eric L. Townsend and Dr. Kristopher R. Harth can use a soft tissue laser to recontour your gums and give you a beautiful smile. Keep reading to learn more about this process and whether or not you’re a candidate.
What is Gum Recontouring?
Gum recontouring is a procedure for patients who feel the proportions of their gums and teeth are off. This cosmetic treatment is used to improve the appearance of smiles that are too “gummy” or have uneven soft tissue, giving you the results that you’re looking for.
Should I Consider Gum Recontouring?
Do your teeth look stubby or too short? Or, maybe your gums look uneven on one side compared to the other? You may be a great candidate for gum recontouring. Patients can typically receive this treatment if they have relatively good oral health and no preexisting gum issues. The best way to know whether or not this treatment is right for you is to contact us today. We will carefully examine your mouth to see if you could benefit from gum recontouring.
What is the Gum Recontouring Process?
Eliminating the need for sutures and stitches, we use a soft tissue laser for gum recontouring. This solution is much less invasive than more traditional methods, and it’s also a more conservative option for patients who have had a history with gum disease or other oral health issues. This small and precise laser seals your gums as it works, preventing bleeding and infection. This comfortable treatment is used to expose more of your teeth, allowing for a more proportionate smile.
Is Crown Lengthening the Same as Gum Recontouring?
Crown lengthening is similar to gum recontouring. Besides the name, its main difference is the reason why we use this treatment. We perform crown lengthening before the placement of a crown, bridge, veneer, or other restoration. This can successfully expose more of your natural tooth structure, allowing for a better placement of your restoration. Crown lengthening makes receiving a dental restoration possible even when not enough adequate tooth structure is exposed initially.
Gum Recontouring FAQs
Is gum recontouring permanent?
For most patients, yes. Once we’ve used our soft tissue laser to remove excess gum tissue, it's highly unlikely to grow back the way it did before. That makes gum recontouring in Ponte Vedra Beach one of the few cosmetic treatments that can deliver permanent results.
There are cases, however, where partial regrowth (also called rebound) is possible. This usually occurs when insufficient bone has been removed underneath the treatment area. It can also happen due to genetics, hormonal changes, and inflammation, which can cause partial swelling. Our team will take great care during your treatment to ensure your results are symmetrical, proportionate, and made to last.
Is gum recontouring painful?
If the thought of having your gums worked on makes you feel uneasy, you can rest well knowing your procedure will be pain-free. Before we begin, we'll numb the treatment area with a local anesthetic, so you won't feel anything while the laser does its job. Because this technology seals the tissue as it goes, there's minimal bleeding and far less discomfort afterward compared to traditional surgical methods.
Once the anesthesia wears off, you may experience some mild tenderness around your gumline, but this is normal and typically manageable with an over-the-counter pain reliever and fades within a few days.
How long does it take to recover from gum recontouring?
Recovery from laser gum recontouring is generally quick and easy-going. Most patients we treat return to their normal routines within a day or two, albeit with mild tenderness for a short time afterward.
To help you get the most out of your recovery and keep it moving quickly, we'll send you home with post-op instructions. These will include diet recommendations, like sticking to soft, cool foods like yogurt and smoothies while your gums settle. You'll also want to be gentle around the treated area when brushing until things have fully healed. Our team is always just a phone call away if any questions come up during your recovery.
Does gum recontouring improve oral health?
It can, yes. While gum recontouring is first and foremost a cosmetic treatment, removing excess or uneven gum tissue can make it easier to keep your smile clean. When your gums are overgrown, they can create pockets where plaque and bacteria like to hide—areas that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush or floss.
By reshaping your gumline, recontouring can reduce that risk and put your smile on a path to overall better oral health. To find out whether gum recontouring is the right fit for your smile, meet our doctors and schedule a consultation with our Ponte Vedra Beach team.