Gum Contouring & Gummy Smile
Everyone deserves to feel confident in their smile, but concerns about the appearance of the teeth or gums can leave some people feeling self-conscious. If excess gum tissue makes your teeth appear shorter than you would like or creates what is commonly called a “gummy smile,” cosmetic dental treatment may be able to create a more balanced appearance.
Gum contouring is a cosmetic procedure designed to reshape the gumline by carefully removing or reshaping excess gum tissue. By adjusting the proportions between the teeth and gums, gum contouring can create a more even, symmetrical smile and allow more of the natural tooth surface to show. The appropriate treatment will depend on the underlying cause of your gummy smile and your individual cosmetic goals.
As a Greenville native and fourth-generation dentist, Dr. Preston Hamrick is proud to continue his family’s tradition of serving the community. He takes the time to build personal relationships with his patients, understand what they would like to change about their smiles, and develop treatment plans tailored to their individual needs and goals.
Read on to learn more about the causes of a gummy smile and available treatment options, including gum contouring. To schedule a consultation or learn more about our cosmetic dentistry services, call Heritage Dentistry today at 864.292.5125.
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(864) 292-5125
Causes of Gummy Smile
Prior to determining what treatment option is the best fit for providing you with the results you want, it is important to determine the underlying reason for your gummy smile. Although having a gummy smile may not match your ideal of what a perfect smile should look like, it is important to be aware that a gummy smile is often not indicative of an underlying health condition. There are several reasons why you may have a gummy smile, which include:
- Short upper lip
- Teeth are smaller compared to gums, either due to genetics or wear
- Improper eruption of teeth, causing them to appear shorter than they are
- Hyperactive upper lip (treatable with Botox)
- Bulging gums
- Long or enlarged gums
Gum Contouring Procedure
The gum contouring process begins with an initial consultation with Dr. Hamrick, who will conduct a thorough oral examination to determine whether gum contouring is an appropriate treatment option for you. If the underlying cause of your gummy smile is due to lip hypermobility, Botox injections may be a more effective treatment option. In other cases, porcelain restorations, bonding, or orthodontics can be effective in correcting a gummy smile
If it is determined that gum contouring is the optimal dental treatment for you, at your next appointment, our Greenveille dentist will numb the area to reduce or eliminate discomfort. Dental sedation will also be available to ensure you remain comfortable throughout the procedure. Next, Dr. Hamrick will determine the optimal gumline to create a harmoniously balanced ratio of teeth to gums. Once this is determined, he will begin removing the excessive gum tissue using a scalpel or laser. Once the desired gumline is achieved, the procedure will be complete.
Benefits of Gum Contouring
Along with the tremendous impact a gum contouring procedure can have in boosting your self-confidence and improving the aesthetic appearance of your smile, additional benefits of the gum contouring procedure include:
- Minimally invasive
- Safe
- Provides a permanent solution
- Reduces risk of gum disease
- Provides instantaneous results
Healing Process and Maintenance
It is common to experience some discomfort following your gum contouring procedure, but this can typically be managed with OTC pain-relieving medication, ice packs, and rest. Eating soft foods, avoiding strenuous exercise, and avoiding the treatment site following the procedure are recommended to speed up the healing process and avoid complications.
Following your gum contouring procedure, be sure to continue brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily, eat a healthy and balanced diet, and avoid use of tobacco. We also encourage our clients to schedule regular dental cleanings at least every six months to ensure the health and sustained brightness of your smile. In addition to giving your teeth a professional cleaning, these visits are also an opportunity for Dr. Preston Hamrick to evaluate your overall oral health, as he looks for any indications of gum disease or any other underlying issue that may require treatment. If you follow these best practices, you will enjoy a bright, white, healthy smile for many years to come.
Cost of Gum Contouring
For patients with dental insurance, the total cost of gum contouring or treating a gummy smile will depend on whether the procedure is covered under your plan and, if so, how much is covered. Our staff is happy to review your coverage to determine whether your plan covers these procedures and ensure you maximize your benefits and have minimal out-of-pocket expenses.
If you are a patient at our practice and do not have dental insurance, consider joining our membership club. Because we value your loyalty, we have launched this club to help save you money on treatment and simplify payments for preventative care. We offer three levels of membership: child, adult, and perio membership. Professional dental cleanings, doctor exams, necessary X-rays, and a 5% discount on all other treatment (some exclusions apply) are included in all membership packages.
You can sign up today and start saving money on treatment online or call us at (864) 292-5125.
For your convenience, we accept all forms of credit and debit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
Fall in Love with Your Smile Again
At Heritage Dentistry in Greenville, South Carolina, we are committed to providing exceptional, relationship-based dental care tailored to your individual needs. With a comprehensive range of treatment options, our goal is to help you maintain optimal oral health while giving you a smile you can feel confident about.
To schedule an appointment for gum contouring treatment, or learn more about our dental services, contact our Greenville dental team today at (684) 292-5125.
Learn More About Our Services
- All on 4 Dental Implants
- Bone Grafting
- Children's Dentistry
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Dental Bonding
- Dental Bridge
- Dental Cleanings
- Dental Crowns
- Dental Exams
- Dental Fillings
- Dental Implants
- Dentist
- Dentures
- Family Dentistry
- Full Mouth Dental Implants
- Gum Contouring
- Gum Grafting
- Implant Supported Dentures
- Invisalign
- Periodontal Therapy
- Porcelain Veneers
- Root Canals
- Scale and Root Planing
- Sedation Dentistry
- Teeth Whitening
- Tooth Extractions