When your gums cover more structure on one or more of your teeth than it does on others, they can make your whole smile seem crooked. Known as a gummy smile, it’s a common condition that may or may not indicate an immediate threat to your oral health. In any case, the excess tissues may eventually raise your risk of issues like gum disease, as well as make optimizing your smile’s appearance impossible. To correct your gummy smile, your dentist might recommend contouring it with the help of a specially calibrated, soft-tissue dental laser.
Why Your Smile Looks Gummy
There is no single, definite cause for a gummy smile, but there are several well-known factors that can contribute to one. For example, if one or more of your teeth didn’t erupt properly, then the surrounding gum tissues may not have been able to form properly. If there’s an abnormal growth or contour on your jawbone, then it might also affect how your gums are arranged around your teeth roots.
How Laser Gum Contouring Works
The point of laser gum contouring is to correct the outline of your gums and make them match the contours of your teeth. Using innovative laser technology, your dentist can gently and precisely trim away the excess tissue to make the entire gum line around your teeth more symmetrical and even. Compared to scalpel-based contouring, laser treatment is significantly more comfortable and can produce more esthetically pleasing results, as well as make healing faster and more convenient.
Learn More About Laser Contouring Your Gums
To improve the appearance and health of your gums, ask your dentist if you can benefit from laser gum contouring. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX at 832-437-3849. We proudly welcome patients and families from Katy, Fulshear, Weston Lakes, Simonton, Richmond, Rosenberg, Brookshire, Wallis, Orchard, Cypress, Sealy, Columbus, and all surrounding communities.
