Gum Contouring in Arlington Heights, IL

You may have a "gummy smile" if the upper portion of your tooth is hidden by extra gum tissue. At our practice, gum contouring can improve your smile by eliminating the extra soft tissue and revealing more of your teeth. Gum contouring doesn't just create a more attractive smile, but it could also improve your dental health by eliminating places where bacteria typically hides. This decreases your risk of getting periodontal disease, cavities, and infections. Make an appointment for a consultation at Springer/Orser Dentistry in Arlington Heights, IL to find out more about gum sculpting.

Contouring the gums may give you a more attractive smile while also helping to improve your general oral health. You might be a good candidate for gum sculpting if you would like to get a better smile by correcting a “gummy” look. When your gums are low, gum sculpting can give you an even, higher gumline. This procedure is also great if you have had problems with frequent infections or periodontal disease caused by bacteria trapped in large gum pockets.

Gum sculpting is done in our office using local anesthesia. Options for sedation may be used if you have fears or anxiety about visiting the dentist. Before the procedure, your gums and teeth will be professionally cleaned then dried. We can then use a special laser tool to cut away gum tissue until the desired shape and gumline is achieved. The laser tool cauterizes the gums to minimize bleeding throughout the treatment. As soon as your gums are contoured, we will rinse your gums so you may enjoy your results. Usually, gum contouring will be complete in a single appointment.

When your treatment is complete, a member of our team will go over recovery instructions. You might also be provided with a prescription for antibiotic medication if symptoms of an infection were seen in the procedure. Your gums might be red and inflamed for 1 – 3 weeks; however, if you follow a good home oral care routine of daily brushing and flossing, your gum tissue will quickly return to normal. You should still make appointments for yearly dental examinations so our dental team can evaluate the health of your gums and teeth.

As a cosmetic dental procedure, gum contouring is not usually covered by dental insurance. However, our practice takes several payment methods. A member of our team can discuss estimates of costs at your initial consultation and how to find medical financing to make your procedure more affordable.

Gum sculpting is a wonderful treatment for many reasons — it will improve the appearance of your smile as well as reduce your chances of obtaining gum disease. If you would like to enhance your smile or have better oral health, gum sculpting might be right for you. To get more information about gum contouring, contact our office in Arlington Heights, IL to schedule your appointment.