At Healthy Smiles of Georgia we speak with many Alpharetta patients who are dissatisfied with the appearance or shape of their gums. While most people think of things like teeth whitening when considering how to improve their smile, the appearance of the gums also makes a significant impact. If you feel that yours are too large or have receded and are too small, call (678) 762-0690 and schedule an appointment with our 30004 dental office. We can examine you, make recommendations, and let you know whether we can assist you or if you should see a specialist. In the meantime, here are a few frequently asked questions about gum contouring and our answers to them.
This is cosmetic procedure that is used to change the shape of your gums. A Alpharetta dentist can use this procedure to cut away excessive gum tissue that is giving you a “gummy” smile or to restore gum tissue that has receded and is now exposing too much of your teeth.
Typically, this is a highly personal decision that is made based on how you feel about your gums. If your gums are uneven, or they cover too much or too little of your teeth, then you may be a good candidate for gum contouring or gum reshaping. To find out, call 678-762-0690 and schedule an appointment with our Alpharetta, GA dental office.
There can be, but you will be medicated during the procedure, which will reduce the likelihood of you feeling any pain during it. How much really depends on how much gum tissue is being cut away, shaped, or grafted. Additionally, the type of dental tools used will impact what your gums feel like afterward. Currently, 30004 dentists are using both scalpels and lasers to complete gum procedures.
This also heavily depends on the type of tools used to complete the procedure. When a scalpel is used for gum contouring, sutures will be necessary and there will be more overall irritation. Very often, lasers can treat the gums without cutting or sutures, decreasing the recovery time. Regardless, you will experience some swelling and discomfort afterward. You can manage it by applying ice packs to your face for 15 minutes at a time and using ibuprofen.
Check out what others are saying about our gum contouring services on Yelp: What Is Gum Contouring and Reshaping Alpharetta.
Yes. You will need to be careful with what you eat. Since your gums will be sensitive, you should avoid eating anything that is sharp or that could cut, poke, or irritate them in any way. For this reason, most people stick with a soft diet of yogurt, soup, ice cream, pudding, etc. for a couple of days. If your gum reshaping was performed using a scalpel, it is likely that you will be scheduled for a follow-up visit. At that point, your Alpharetta dentist will examine the gums to determine if everything is healing properly, and if it is, they will let you know when you can return to all your normal dietary habits. Additionally, you may be prescribed an antibiotic rinse to use in order to combat a potential infection, and when you do brush your teeth, you will need to do so very gently.
These terms are used interchangeably by 30004 dentists who perform them. Some may use contouring to describe the procedure with the use of a scalpel and reshaping when lasers are used. At the end of the day, the approach and objective are very similar. It is the tools that are different. The key is that if you want your gums to look different, it doesn’t really matter which term is used, both contouring and reshaping can be an excellent solution.
That depends on why you want to schedule a gum reshaping. If you are calling our office because you suffer from gum disease, we will first examine you to determine if you have the condition, discuss your treatment options, and work to eliminate the actual disease. At that point, you may very well need a gum contouring procedure in order to restore gums that have receded and are now putting the health of your teeth, roots, and jawbone at risk. In a very real sense, gum contouring and grafting can help save your teeth.
While typically gum recession is caused by gum disease, you could also experience this due to excessive tooth brushing, taking a prescription drug, or even genetics. In this case, as with gum disease, restoring your gum tissue may become necessary for your optimum oral health.
That really depends on your insurance company and whether you are getting the procedure to restore gums ravaged by gum disease or if you are having it done to simply remove a gummy smile and improve your appearance. Typically, if it is for health reasons, the insurance company will pay for at least part of it.
You could get an infection or have a bad reaction to the anesthesia. If you have had surgery and anesthesia before, it is unlikely that you will have a bad reaction this time. Simultaneously, if you follow the aftercare instructions, your risk for infection will go down significantly.
If you do not like the appearance of your smile, call (678) 762-0690 and schedule an appointment with our Alpharetta, GA dental office. We can conduct a thorough examination and take x-rays before discussing what you do not like about your smile. We can then make a series of recommendations for how to address it. If you don’t need gum reshaping for medical reasons, you can always have other cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening or dental bonding completed first to see if the impact is significant enough for you. Otherwise, if your gums remain an obvious issue, you should explore gum contouring further, and we can then make a recommendation for the best way for you to proceed.
Trinity steiding2024-03-27Dr. Jai is so wonderful as are all of his assistants and receptionists. They always encourage me to let them know if I have any questions or issues during the cleanings. I have what’s called ‘groovy’ teeth so getting cavities was something I knew often. Since coming here I’ve had less to no issues with my teeth and always come out sparkly clean. Healthy Smiles of Georgia really cares about the patient/ client and I recommend you come here :)!
Christian Smith2024-03-15Dr. Jai and his whole team were very friendly and professional. This office is also completely transparent with the cost of services. The best tooth care experience I have had in my life. A big thank you to the whole team!
Shivangi Patel2024-03-13I had started having pain in my right wisdom tooth. I thought it would go away with time & waited for about a week, but on Saturday, when I couldn't tolerate it at all, I made a call to Dr. Jai’s office and got lucky that they saw me on the same day. It came out that I had a cavity on my right side molar. My visits with Dr. Jai & his staff (Victoria & Amisha) were pleasant & satisfying. I would suggest visiting him because he is passionate about his work and serves you best.
Joelle DeNardo2024-03-07Absolutely love Dr. Jai and the entire staff. They treat us like family and have gone out of their way to accommodate us. Very clean, friendly and great family dentist.
Brittney McCree2024-02-21I have been a patient of Dr. J’s for two years. He is warm and personable. The office staff is also pleasant. I can typically schedule an appointment that fits my schedule rather quickly. Convenient location & good parking.
Sami Abernathy2024-01-03Everyone who works here is great. All really nice and also very helpful. Dr J is also very knowledgeable and quite funny as well. Great place to get your teeth done
Sammy Freck2023-12-18great experience, pam is the best!!
Zachary2023-11-16The overall experience was quite pleasant. The dentist has never been a particularly favorite place of mine but the staff made it much less stressful. Would highly recommend.
