Gum Contouring

For many people seeking a cosmetic improvement to their smile, there sometimes find that there is little or no problem with the condition or appearance of their teeth. In fact, their main issue can be the appearance of their gums, which may appear too prominent or not in harmony when smiling.

"Gummy" smiles are a common problem, caused by overgrowth of the gum tissue that covers the teeth even more so than usual. This can be caused by a variety of things, including heredity (from your family) health conditions, and even the use of some common high blood pressure medications.

When your gums are overgrown, it can often make your smile appear crooked or lop-sided. It can also make it seem as though your teeth are a lot smaller than they actually are. Luckily, a dental procedure known as gum contouring (or lifting) can be used to easily solve this problem.

Traditionally the process of gum contouring has been carried out with a scalpel, although more and more dentists nowadays are opting to use more modern devices and sometimes lasers to achieve the desired effect required by the patient.