Gum Contouring

What Is Gum Contouring?

The area that is receiving treatment will be thoroughly numbed with local anesthesia. After we ensure you are comfortable, we will make small incisions to remove excess gum tissue and create symmetrical, esthetic, gum contours. In some cases, a dental laser may be used to fine-tune the new gum margins. Depending on the cause of your condition, the gums may need to be moved out of the way during the procedure to allow us to evaluate and adjust the underlying bone. If necessary, the bone is smoothed and reshaped to ensure that the gum tissue remains in the desired, new position and does not rebound to its pre-treatment location. The gum tissue is replaced and secured with sutures.

We offer multiple sedation options for surgical procedures, if needed.

Treatment Timeline

Visit 1: Consult & Exam

• Review of health history and determine diagnosis
• Pre-op intra-oral scan
• Review recommended treatment plan and answer all questions

Visit 2: Gum Recontouring/Crown Lengthening Surgery

• Sedation (optional) and local anesthesia
• Completion of surgical procedure for gum recontouring
• Review post-op instructions and care

Visit 3: Post-op (3 weeks)

• Check the area for normal healing
• Remove sutures
• Review and update home care instructions
• Additional post-op appointments may be scheduled as necessary, based on healing
  ‍Note: You may not see the doctor at your post-op appointment, but they are always available to answer any question if you need. Do not hesitate to ask!

Visit 4: Final Post-op

• Full healing time will depend on the nature of the condition and extent of treatment; your provider will discuss anticipated healing time at your initial consult
• Final intra-oral scan (we will show comparisons between your pre-op and post-op scans)
• Final evaluation with the doctor
• Release to general dentist for any planned restorative treatment