Some patients spend years whitening, straightening, or bonding their teeth and still feel their smile is off. The proportions seem wrong. It looks unbalanced, though each tooth is fine. In these cases, the issue is usually the gum line. Read on to learn more.

What It Means to Have a Gummy Smile

Gums frame teeth the way a mat frames a photograph. If the proportions are wrong, even a beautiful image can look awkward. An uneven gum line creates asymmetry that draws attention to the wrong area of your smile.

A gummy smile isn't about your teeth. It's because extra gum tissue is sitting too low, covering more of the tooth surface. Many patients have this issue, and it explains why an otherwise healthy smile can still look unbalanced.

Laser Gum Contouring

If you have a gummy smile, you may be wondering what we can do to help. For patients like you, we offer laser gum contouring, a gentle treatment that can restore balance to your smile. 

With laser gum contouring, we use a dental laser to precisely and selectively remove excess gum tissue, exposing more of the natural tooth surface. The result is a gum line that sits higher and more evenly, giving your teeth more visible length and your smile a better overall proportion.

A few things worth knowing about laser gum contouring:

• It's typically completed in a single visit
• Laser technology significantly reduces bleeding and swelling 
• Results are immediate
• Recovery is simple

What Changes After Laser Gum Contouring

The biggest change is in the proportions of your smile. Short teeth look normal. Asymmetry is gone. The procedure reveals tooth structure that was already there, just covered up. For patients who've been trying to improve their smile through other means without getting the result they wanted, this is often the adjustment that finally makes everything make sense.

Is Laser Gum Contouring Right for You?

Gum contouring works best for patients with excess gum tissue that affects the appearance or symmetry of their smile and whose underlying teeth and bone structure are healthy. It can stand alone as a treatment or work alongside other cosmetic procedures like bonding, veneers, or whitening, where gum proportion is one of several factors being addressed. A consultation and visual assessment are what determine whether gum tissue is the primary issue and how much adjustment would achieve the result you're looking for.

Are you ready to see if laser gum contouring can transform your smile? Contact our office located in South Windsor, CT to schedule a consultation.