Gum Contouring & Reshaping in South Tacoma, WA
A beautiful smile balances teeth and gums in harmonious proportions. At Davis Dental Group in South Tacoma, we use advanced laser gum contouring to correct gummy smiles, reshape uneven gum lines, and create balanced aesthetics that complement your teeth. This precise, minimally invasive procedure transforms your smile by revealing more of your natural tooth structure and creating symmetrical proportions.
Quick Facts:
- Laser precision: Advanced technology for accurate reshaping
- Minimal discomfort: Quick healing with modern techniques
- Immediate improvement: See results right away
- Often combined: Works beautifully with veneers and whitening
- Free consultations: Personalized evaluation and treatment planning
- Serving: South Tacoma, Graham, Roy, Spanaway, Frederickson, Eatonville, and JBLM families
The Gum Contouring Process
Comprehensive Evaluation and Planning
Your journey begins with thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and overall smile proportions. Your dentist evaluates how much gum tissue shows when you smile, the symmetry of your gum line across teeth, the health of your gum tissue, and your underlying bone structure.
Using our advanced Shining 3D Aoralscan Elf scanner, we create precise digital models showing current gum anatomy. This technology helps plan the exact amount of tissue to remove for optimal aesthetic results while maintaining healthy gum function.
We take "before" photographs from multiple angles, documenting your current smile. These images help us design your new gum line and provide comparison after treatment. You discuss your goals and review digital previews showing how gum contouring will transform your smile proportions.
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Anesthesia and Preparation
On the day of your procedure, your dentist applies local anesthetic to numb your gums completely. You feel no pain during treatment—just slight pressure. The numbing process takes just a few minutes, ensuring your complete comfort throughout the procedure.
Your dentist marks the planned new gum line with a surgical marker, showing you exactly where tissue will be removed. This collaborative step ensures you understand and approve the planned changes before any work begins.
Laser Gum Reshaping
Using a specialized dental laser, your dentist carefully removes excess gum tissue along the marked lines. The laser simultaneously cuts and cauterizes tissue, minimizing bleeding and promoting faster healing. The precision of laser technology allows removal of exact amounts needed—no more, no less.
The procedure typically takes 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on how many teeth require treatment. If you're having just a few teeth contoured, the process is quite quick. Full-mouth gum reshaping takes longer but is still completed in a single appointment.
Throughout the process, your dentist frequently pauses to evaluate progress and ensure symmetrical, balanced results. The laser's precision allows for subtle adjustments that create natural-looking proportions.
Bone Recontouring (If Needed)
In some cases, excess gum tissue results from too much underlying bone. If evaluation reveals this issue, your dentist may perform minor bone recontouring along with gum tissue removal. This ensures long-lasting results by addressing the structural cause of the gummy appearance.
Bone recontouring adds time to the procedure but is performed under the same anesthesia. The laser's advanced capabilities make this additional step minimally invasive.
Final Shaping and Evaluation
After removing the planned amount of tissue, your dentist carefully shapes the new gum line to create smooth, natural contours. They evaluate symmetry across your smile, making any minor adjustments needed for balanced appearance.
You view your new smile in a mirror, seeing immediate improvement in tooth-to-gum proportions. Most patients are amazed by how much more attractive their smile appears with properly balanced gum levels.
Types of Gum Contouring Corrections
Gummy Smile Correction
A gummy smile shows excessive gum tissue when you smile, sometimes covering half or more of your teeth. This creates the appearance of small, stubby teeth even when tooth size is actually normal. Gum contouring removes the excess tissue, revealing more tooth surface and creating a more balanced smile.
Research published in the Journal of Periodontology indicates that patients seeking gummy smile correction report significant improvements in confidence and satisfaction with their appearance after treatment.
Uneven Gum Line Correction
Sometimes gum tissue sits at different levels across teeth, making some teeth appear longer or shorter than others. This asymmetry creates visual imbalance even when teeth themselves are properly aligned. Gum contouring evens out the gum line, creating uniform tissue levels that showcase teeth beautifully.
Enhancing Cosmetic Dentistry Results
Gum contouring often accompanies other cosmetic treatments for optimal results. When combined with porcelain veneers, contouring ensures veneers have proper proportions from gum line to biting edge. With teeth whitening, it creates better tooth exposure to showcase your bright smile. As part of a complete smile makeover, gum work establishes the foundation for harmonious overall aesthetics.
Crown Lengthening for Restorations
Sometimes teeth have insufficient structure above the gum line to properly support dental crowns or other restorations. Gum contouring (called crown lengthening in this context) exposes more tooth structure, creating adequate surface area for restoration placement. While technically restorative rather than cosmetic, this procedure often improves smile aesthetics simultaneously.
Comparing Gum Contouring to Other Treatments
Laser Gum Contouring vs. Traditional Surgery
Traditional gum surgery uses scalpels to cut tissue and requires sutures to close incisions. This approach causes more bleeding, discomfort, and longer healing times. Laser gum contouring eliminates these drawbacks by using focused light energy that cuts and seals simultaneously.
Laser treatment typically involves no bleeding, no sutures needed, faster healing (days instead of weeks), less post-procedure discomfort, and reduced infection risk. Most patients find laser contouring significantly more comfortable than traditional surgical approaches.
Gum Contouring vs. Orthodontics
Orthodontic treatment moves teeth into better positions but does not address excess gum tissue. If you have both tooth misalignment and gummy smile, you may need orthodontics followed by gum contouring for comprehensive correction. However, if your teeth are properly aligned and only gum tissue creates aesthetic concerns, contouring alone achieves your goals.
Gum Contouring vs. Botox for Gummy Smile
Some practitioners offer Botox injections to temporarily reduce gum show by limiting how high your upper lip raises when smiling. While non-invasive, Botox provides only temporary results (3-4 months) and requires repeated treatments. Gum contouring provides permanent correction by actually removing excess tissue.
Caring for Your Gums After Contouring
First 24 Hours
Avoid eating or drinking until numbness wears off completely to prevent accidentally biting your lips or cheeks. Stick to soft, cool foods for the first day—yogurt, smoothies, mashed potatoes, and soup. Avoid hot foods and beverages that could irritate healing tissue.
Do not brush the treated areas for the first 24 hours. You may gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt in 8 ounces water) after meals. Take any prescribed pain medication as directed, though most patients report minimal discomfort requiring only over-the-counter pain relievers.
First Week
Resume gentle brushing after 24 hours, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and avoiding direct pressure on healing gum tissue. Brush your teeth normally but be extra gentle near the contoured areas. Continue rinsing with warm salt water several times daily to promote healing and prevent infection.
Maintain a soft food diet for 3-5 days, gradually reintroducing firmer foods as comfort allows. Avoid crunchy, sticky, or spicy foods that could irritate healing gums. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes that proper post-procedure care is essential for optimal healing outcomes.
Long-Term Care
Once healing is complete (typically 7-10 days), resume normal oral hygiene with twice-daily brushing and daily flossing. Attend regular dental cleanings every six months to maintain gum health and prevent recession or other problems.
Your newly contoured gums should maintain their improved appearance permanently. However, gum disease can cause tissue changes over time, so excellent oral hygiene protects your investment in gum contouring.
Why Choose Davis Dental Group for Gum Contouring
- Advanced 3D Scanning Technology: Precise imaging for accurate implant planning and placement. Better planning means better results.
- Walk-Ins Welcome: Stop by our Tacoma office anytime for consultations—no appointment needed.
- Same-Day Consultations: We offer same-day appointments when available, so you don't have to wait.
- Free Consultations: Get expert guidance with no obligation. We'll evaluate your situation and discuss your options.
- Comprehensive Care in One Location: From consultation to implant placement to final restoration, everything happens right here. No referrals to multiple specialists.
- Experienced Team: Our dental professionals have extensive experience in implant dentistry and prioritize your comfort throughout treatment.
What Not to Do After Gum Contouring
Don't Skip Follow-Up Appointments
Your dentist schedules follow-up visits to monitor healing and ensure optimal results. Attend these appointments even if you feel fine. Early detection of any issues allows prompt treatment before problems develop.
Don't Smoke or Use Tobacco
Tobacco significantly impairs healing and increases infection risk after gum procedures. If you smoke, stop for at least two weeks before and after gum contouring. Better yet, use this as an opportunity to quit permanently—your gum health and overall health will benefit tremendously.
Don't Ignore Unusual Symptoms
Some mild discomfort, slight swelling, and minor bleeding are normal for a few days after gum contouring. However, severe pain, excessive bleeding, significant swelling, or fever indicate problems requiring immediate attention. Contact Davis Dental Group promptly if you experience concerning symptoms.
Don't Neglect Oral Hygiene
While you should be gentle initially, don't stop cleaning your teeth entirely. Poor oral hygiene leads to infection and complications. Follow your dentist's instructions about when and how to resume normal brushing and flossing around treated areas.