Do you wish you would see a little less of your gums and a little more of your teeth when you smile? If so, you’re not alone. Many people feel that their smiles are too “gummy” and look to cosmetic dentistry to give them smiles they can show off with pride. In order to improve the ratio of gums to teeth, a procedure called gum contouring is utilized. Read below as your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, tells you what to expect from a gum contouring procedure.

The Gum Contouring Procedure

Your Erlanger cosmetic dentist, Dr. Henry, uses a diode laser to perform her gum contouring procedures. This specially designed laser allows her to remove the precise amount of gum tissue quickly and as delicately as possible. When performing gum contouring, Dr. Henry first marks the gum tissue that will be removed. Next, she administers a local anesthetic to the treatment area. Once the anesthetic takes effect, she reshapes the gums with the diode laser. This laser simultaneously removes gum tissue while sealing it off, resulting in little or no bleeding and swelling. By contrast, gum surgery without a laser requires cuts and stitches as well as a significant recovery period.

Life after Gum Contouring

One of the best things about the gum contouring procedure is the minimal recovery period it requires. Because the diode laser is so gentle and minimizes bleeding and swelling, patients who undergo the gum contouring procedure are able to get back to their lives and show off their new smiles quickly. Although the work done by gum contouring may not seem like a drastic change, the transformations produced by the procedure can be quite dramatic. Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest differences, and when you see your new smile for the first time, you may agree.

Schedule a Visit with Your Erlanger Dentist

Would you like to transform your smile with gum contouring? Contact our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500 to schedule an appointment with your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Henry. We serve patients from Erlanger, Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, and Taylor Mill.