How do you feel when you smile? Are you proud of your glistening white teeth, straight teeth? Do people compliment your megawatt grin? Or are you insecure about revealing your teeth because your gums are too visible, making your teeth look shorter or uneven, even if they’re not? It’s called a “gummy smile”, and it can wreak havoc on your self esteem- and on your teeth too.

Having a gummy smile may seem like a purely cosmetic problem, however it can often be dangerous to your gums, by increasing your risk of gum disease and even bad breath. It can also be detrimental to your mental health if you suffer from insecurities over the appearance of your smile.

While having a gummy smile may have been a problem for you in the past, the great news is that there are solutions to this problem you may not have considered, or even realized were options.

The solution is called gum contouring, and it can help correct a gummy smile. Gum contouring is typically done with a laser, which removes the excess gum tissue from the teeth. Exposing more of the tooth can make your teeth look larger and your gum line more even, improving your self-esteem, bad breath, gum disease risk, and appearance.

Gum contouring can also be performed with a scalpel, though this solution has a slightly longer recovery time than with laser surgery.

Patients who undergo gum contouring can expect gum sensitivity for up to two weeks following their procedure, during which time they may want to avoid hot or cold foods, to prevent further irritation to the gums.

Unfortunately, sometimes gum contouring is simply not a viable option, and Dr. Peterson will recommend solutions such as orthodontics or plastic surgery to help correct your gummy smile. A consultation with Dr. Peterson to discuss this issue is an important first step to correcting the problem and boosting your self confidence and oral health.

If you are tired of living with a gummy smile, let Dr. Peterson help develop a plan that will help reveal that dazzling smile you’ve always wanted.  To learn more about this impactful treatment, please contact Dr. Peterson’s office for a consultation today!