A balanced smile is affected not only by the shape and colour of the teeth but also by the proportion of the gum that is visible. Gum contouring, often referred to as gingival reshaping or in some cases crown lengthening, is a cosmetic dental procedure that aims to tweak the gum line and make a smile look more pleasing to the viewer. It is commonly used by people with a “gummy smile” where there is too much gum showing when they smile. Interestingly, research suggests that around 10-30% of people have this issue. Gummy smiles are more common among young adults and women.
People looking for a solution often talk to either a general dentist, a specialist in gums (a periodontist) or a cosmetic dentist like the cosmetic dentist Mount Druitt about reshaping their gums. However gum contouring is not always the answer. In fact research shows that gummy smiles are caused by lots of different things, including how much gum you have, whether your teeth came in crooked, whether your top lip is a bit too loose or whether your upper jaw is a bit too big. Which means that treatment success is very much linked to whether the dentist has the right diagnosis rather than just what the patient thinks looks good.
Understanding Why You Have A Gummy Smile
Studies have said that a gummy smile is when you show more than 3mm of gum when you smile. But actually, research suggests that it’s pretty rare to see more than 2mm of gum when you smile. If you can see more than 3mm it’s often seen as less balanced. But, as you’d expect, people’s views on what looks good vary from one culture to another and even from one person to another.
Getting it right is all about working out what’s causing the issue in the first place. Studies have found that things like a jaw that’s too big or an upper lip that’s just a bit too loose can cause gum display to be much bigger than average. The trouble is that if one person has a 4mm gum display and another person has an 8mm display, even though they might both think their smile is a bit gummy, the treatment they get won’t be the same. It’s the underlying cause that determines the best course of action.
Gum Contouring Procedures
Modern gum contouring procedures usually involve either removing or reshaping some of the gum tissue to show more of the tooth. Depending on what the dentist has diagnosed, they may use a laser, a scalpel or a crown lengthening procedure that also affects the supporting bone underneath.
Benefits & Measurable Aesthetic Outcomes
The real benefit of gum contouring is that it gives you a smile that’s more in proportion to your teeth. Studies after study have shown that simply exposing a bit more of the tooth can make your whole smile look more symmetrical and balanced. Patients really do notice. Lots of people say their teeth look bigger and more even after treatment.
We’ve got hard numbers to back this up too. Small changes in how much gum is showing can make a big difference. Research on gummy smile treatments has shown that even a tiny bit of gum tissue removal just 2.5 mm can make a real difference. Not to mention that in studies of smile makeovers, 80%+ of patients say they’re happy with how their smile looks after treatment. That being said, how happy people are can still vary depending on what they’re expecting, how their treatment is planned and what’s actually going on with their gums.
Risks, Limitations and Long-Term Things to Think About
Now, don’t get us wrong. Gum contouring is popular for a reason. However, like all treatments, it does have its limits. One of the biggest concerns in medical research is that people are often misdiagnosed. If the problem with your gums is actually coming from somewhere else entirely (like your bones or muscles) then just cutting the gum back may not do much good at all. That’s why lots of periodontal specialists now recommend getting a full-on assessment before you decide to go ahead with treatment.
