Your Simple Guide to Gum Reshaping

You don’t need to suffer from severe tooth decay or have missing teeth to be affected by the appearance of your smile. Sometimes it’s not even your teeth that are making you feel self-conscious—it’s just your gums. 

A gummy smile may not be a detriment to your oral health, but it can certainly be detrimental to your self-esteem if you feel as though it’s keeping you from having the smile you’ve always wanted. When that’s the case for you, there is a cosmetic solution that may be able to help you address the issue: gum reshaping. 

To help you get a better idea of exactly what this smile-saving treatment is, why you might want it, and what to expect during your appointment, we’ve created this simple guide to all you need to know about gum reshaping.

What is a gummy smile?

A gummy smile is when a large amount of gum tissue is displayed when smiling. While there’s generally nothing too medically concerning about this issue, some people believe it hurts the aesthetic quality of their smiles, and because of that, it can be a source of considerable self-consciousness. 

The way a gummy smile is measured is through the tooth-to-gum ratio. If the amount of gum tissue you show when you smile equals around 25% of the length of your teeth, it is a mildly gummy smile. Severely gummy smiles are categorized as situations where the gum tissue extends to 100% or more of the length of your teeth.

The Causes of a Gummy Smile

Here are a few of the most common reasons why someone might have a gummy smile:   

Genetics

Most of the time, a gummy smile is just a matter of your inherited anatomy, but you can also inherit certain conditions which can lead to enlarged gums, such as hereditary gingival fibromatosis. 

Improperly Erupted Teeth

Sometimes teeth don’t erupt from the gums properly during development, which causes them to appear small and the gums to appear large. 

Poor Oral Hygiene

Failing to brush and floss regularly can result in gum disease (periodontitis). One of the earlier signs of gum disease is a swelling of the gum tissue. In certain instances, this can cause the tooth-to-gum ratio to become disproportionate. 

You can also experience swelling of the gum tissue from certain medications. When this is the case, it’s always best to consult a doctor to determine the best solution for your gummy smile.

The Benefits of Gum Reduction

Gum reduction, which is sometimes called “gum reshaping” or “gingival sculpting,” is a fairly simple treatment that can give you a more balanced tooth-to-gum ratio and enhance the appearance of your smile. 

If you’re on the fence about whether you want to have this done, take a look at the following benefits that it has to offer:

It can beautify your smile.

This smile solution is first and foremost a cosmetic one, which means it’s done almost entirely for aesthetics. But let’s not discount the power of a beautiful smile just because gum reshaping is an elective procedure. 

With your newly formed smile, you can start feeling a sense of incredible self-confidence from something that once made you feel nothing but embarrassment. There’s incredible value in that.

It’s quick and easy.

Not many people jump for joy when they have to see their dentist for any kind of treatment, so we understand why you might feel trepidation about the prospect of gum reduction. However, this particular procedure doesn’t take too long, isn’t overly invasive, and is mostly painless save for mild postoperative soreness.

There are health benefits.

A gummy smile isn’t a tremendous medical concern by any means, but that excess tissue can be more difficult to keep clean and safe from infection. Gum reshaping reduces the amount of gum tissue and therefore reduces the risk of gum disease.

The Gum Reduction Process

If you speak with a dentist in Newport Beach and determine that you’d like to go through with the gum reshaping process, you can expect the following: 

First, you’ll receive a local anesthetic to numb the area. Generally, further anesthesia is not necessary, and you will be awake throughout the appointment. 

Next, your dentist will reshape your gumline using a scalpel or laser technology. This work not only removes excess gum tissue but makes the remaining gum tissue more shapely and aesthetically pleasing. 

After that, all you need to do is rest, relax, recover, and wait to be dazzled by your gum contouring before-and-after comparison.  

Gum Reduction Recovery

You’re going to experience a little soreness following your gum reshaping procedure, but it’s often nothing that some over-the-counter painkillers can’t help. Eat soft foods at the beginning of recovery, which will ultimately take anywhere from a few days to a week or two.   

Interested in gum reduction?

If you are interested in gum reduction from an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry-accredited dentist in Newport Beach, Luminous Smiles can help! Call our office or go online today to schedule your evaluation.