If your gums come down too far down on your front teeth, you
have what is typically called a “gummy smile.” This condition can make your
teeth look too small and detract from the appearance of your smile. Fortunately,
Dr. Loveless offers his Austin, TX, patients with a simple procedure that
resolves this issue. And thanks to recent advancements in dental technology,
that procedure is now faster and less invasive, with a much shorter healing
period. It’s called gum contouring.
Modern Gum Contouring Technique
Gum contouring has been practiced by dental professional for many years. In earlier times, it was a very invasive technique that involved cutting away gum tissue, then suturing the reshaped gums and waiting for the wounds to heal. But modern dental technology has changed all that. Dr. Loveless uses a specially designed laser to precisely trim away excess gum tissue. The laser greatly reduces the amount of bleeding, as well as drastically cutting down on the amount of time it takes for a patient to recover. Best of all – the procedure takes very little time and produces very little (if any) discomfort on the part of the patient.
What Causes a Gummy Smile?
There are several reasons why a person may develop a gummy smile. These range from poor development of the upper jaw bone to overactive muscles that cause upper lip movement. But there can be other reasons as well, such as the shape and size of your lips. Dr. Loveless can perform an oral examination and discuss with you what might be causing your gummy smile, then tell you whether or not you would be a good candidate for gum contouring.
