Add Symmetry to Your Smile with Gum Contouring
An attractive smile can lead to high self-esteem, which in turn can often support professional success and rewarding personal relationships. If you are reluctant to smile due to the size and shape of your gums, the team at Adel Dental Associates offers a minor surgical procedure called gum contouring to patients in and around Adel, GA. Gum contouring allows Dr. Michael McCartney to add symmetry and beauty to your smile by artfully removing small amounts of excess gum tissue. Patients have trusted Dr. McCartney, who has a fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry, to brighten their smiles for more than 20 years.
Benefits of Gum Contouring
The main benefit of gum contouring is a cosmetic one: Dr. McCartney can create a more symmetrical and attractive smile simply by removing small amounts of gum tissue. Although gum contouring is a form of oral surgery, it is considered a minor surgical procedure. Patients are often able to return to work the day after treatment. Furthermore, complications related to gum contouring are very rare.
A contouring procedure can also prevent the need for more invasive cosmetic treatments. Dental crowns and veneers address small teeth, but those treatments require removal of natural tooth structure. While less invasive treatments like dental bonding can lengthen the appearance of your teeth, the composite resin needs to be replaced every few years. Consequently, gum contouring is a longer-lasting solution.
Are You a Candidate?
There are many cosmetic reasons to seek the benefits of gum contouring. Some patients are unhappy with “gummy smiles” that make their teeth appear shorter than they actually are. If you are reluctant to smile because you are dissatisfied with how small your teeth look, gum contouring can remove excess gum tissue. With this procedure, Dr. McCartney can reveal more of your front-facing natural tooth structure and create a more open, proportional smile.
Patients who have uneven gum lines are also good candidates for gum contouring. Uneven gum lines can result from genetics or even simply overly aggressive brushing.
As with any type of oral surgery, candidates for gum contouring should be in good oral health and free from symptoms of gum disease. During your consultation at our Adel dental practice, Dr. McCartney will determine if you are a good candidate for the life-changing benefits of gum contouring.
A Look at the Procedure
Before your treatment begins, Dr. McCartney will administer local anesthesia along your gum line. Our office also offers multiple forms of sedation so you can feel comfortable throughout the treatment. Once you are relaxed, Dr. McCartney will use a special laser to artfully remove small amounts of gum tissue.
After the procedure is complete, you will be released to return home for rest. Patients often experience a full recovery from laser gum contouring within about 10 days.
By working with Dr. McCartney, you can lower your risk for complications and side effects following surgery. Dr. McCartney has more than 20 years of professional experience. He is an active member of the American Dental Association, Georgia Dental Association, and Southwestern District Dental Association.
Add Beauty and Symmetry to Your Smile
Gum contouring is a straightforward, minor surgery that can deliver drastic cosmetic results. If you have questions about financing, our office offers CareCredit® and in-house insurance (as part of their Smile Savers membership club) to help patients afford treatment. To schedule your gum contouring procedure, please contact our office online or call (229) 896-7679.
