Gum Contouring Costs: Procedure, Benefits & Price Guide

Your smile has an effect on everything, from how you feel to how you're perceived by others and even how confidently you’re able to navigate the world. Unfortunately, many people suffer from complications that can ruin their smile, one of these complications happens to be uneven gum lines or “gummy” smiles. A “gummy” smile can lead to deep insecurity and self-consciousness; luckily, gum contouring exists. Gum contouring is a precise cosmetic dental procedure that can reshape and remove excess gum tissue, giving you a balanced and pleasing smile.

What Is Gum Contouring?

Gum contouring, which is also commonly referred to as gum reshaping or gum recontouring, is a cosmetic dental procedure that sculpts your gumline for the purpose of improved symmetry and harmony between your teeth and gums. Dentists make use of specialized tools and laser technology to strip away excess gum tissue, which reveals more of your tooth's surface, giving you a natural and proportionate look.

Many patients will decide to get a gum removal procedure for their teeth; sometimes it's purely cosmetic, and other times it's for oral health enhancements. For example, an uneven gum line can trap food particles easily and make it harder to maintain proper oral hygiene, inevitably leading to irritation and gum disease.

When is Gum Contouring Needed?

Your orthodontist may recommend gum contouring if:

• You have excessive gum tissue that obscures your teeth.
• You have an uneven gumline that gives your teeth an asymmetrical appearance.
• You're suffering from repeated bouts of inflammation due to excess gum folds.
• You’ve gone through orthodontic treatment of some sort, and now your gums require reshaping for a balanced smile.

It isn't an entirely cosmetic procedure; it can have a long-term positive impact on your overall oral health.

Gum Contouring Procedure Step by Step

It varies from case to case, but gum contouring typically involves traditional surgical tools or more advanced appliances for laser gum contouring. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

• Consultation and Examination: Your dentist will assess your gums and discuss your needs with you. If your gum tissue is covering a particular portion of your teeth, your dentist may suggest a gum cutting procedure.
• Numbing and Preparation: Your dentist will then make use of local anaesthetics to ensure that the process is entirely pain-free. You’ll be awake during the procedure, just like most routine dental treatments.
• Reshaping the Gum Line: For laser gum contouring, your dentist will make use of a precision laser to trim and seal your gum tissue simultaneously. This will minimise bleeding and discomfort. For surgical methods, cutting gums manually may be necessary, but the recovery period is still short and manageable.
• Aftercare and Healing: After the treatment is done, it's recommended to consistently gently rinse your mouth, stay away from spicy foods, and vigorously maintain your oral hygiene. The healing process usually takes a week or two.

The entire process is quite straightforward and often results in minimal complications, giving you the smile you deserve without much struggle.

Benefits of Gum Contouring

The benefits of gum contouring are much wider-reaching than a simple cosmetic fix. Some of them include:

• Enhanced Smile Proportion: Your teeth will appear longer and seem more defined.
• Better Oral Hygiene: A reduction in excess gum tissue will drastically reduce bacterial accumulation.
• Confidence Boost: Having a balanced gumline will give you a massive confidence boost.
• Customizable Results: Modern-day advancements in gum contouring technology, such as laser gum contouring, ensure precise results with very little downtime.

If you’re curious about the ways gum thickness can affect aesthetics, our blog post on thin vs thick gums will help you gain a deeper understanding of how your natural gum type can have an impact on both your oral health and smile.

How Much Does Gum Contouring Cost in Canada?

The gum contouring cost in Canada can vary significantly based on a few key factors, including:

• The amount of tissue removal needed to meet your needs.
• Whether you decide to get a surgical procedure or laser gum contouring.
• The location of the clinic and the orthodontist's experience level.

The average gum contouring cost in Canada ranges from $200 to $3000 CAD, depending on whether the procedure is needed for a single or multiple teeth. The complexity of each case can make the cost go up or down. For cases where both cosmetic and oral health issues need to be addressed, the cost may increase as well.

Is Gum Contouring Covered By Insurance?

Due to gum recontouring being considered a cosmetic procedure, most dental insurance plans won't provide coverage. In certain cases where the procedure is considered a medical necessity, you may receive partial coverage. It's best to consult with both your dentist and insurance provider to clarify if your case is eligible for coverage, so you can have absolute clarity before proceeding.

Laser Gum Contouring vs Traditional Gum Cutting

Most modern dental practitioners prefer laser gum contouring due to its accuracy and ease of use, which allows dentists to precisely reshape your gumline without causing you significant discomfort. Traditional methods are conducted by cutting gums with a scalpel, while lasers offer:

• Less bleeding and swelling.
• A much quicker healing period.
• Drastically reduced risk of infection.
• A far more accurate procedure.

With that being said, a gum cutting procedure is still a very reliable option for cases where a large amount of tissue needs to be reshaped or structural issues need to be corrected.

Recovery and Aftercare

After a gum contouring procedure, you may have gums that feel tender and swollen. Here's a quick breakdown of ways you can ensure a healing period with minimal complications and discomfort:

• Stick to soft foods such as soups, yoghurt, and mashed potatoes for a few days
• Steer clear of foods that are particularly spicy or crunchy until your gums are done healing.
• Regularly do a gentle saltwater rinse to minimise irritation.
• Make sure that you follow any prescribed cleaning instructions from your dentist.

The healing period is usually quite quick; most patients have fully recovered within a week. However, deeper tissue may require an extra week or two to heal fully. If you’re dealing with inflammation or soreness after your treatment, you can try some home remedies for swollen gums for temporary relief.

How Long Does Gum Contouring Last?

For most cases, gum contouring makes a permanent difference; excess tissue that's been removed almost never grows back. You should do your best to maintain your gum health after your procedure, to prevent new complications from arising. Staying consistent with brushing, flossing, and dental checkups will help ensure that your reshaped gums maintain their stability and health over time.

Potential Risks or Disadvantages

Just like any other dental procedure, gum contouring comes with very few risks when performed by an experienced orthodontic professional. It's still prudent to be aware of some of the possible issues that could arise, which include:

• Temporary swelling or bleeding.
• Gums are becoming sensitive to temperature.
• Healing is uneven if you neglect proper aftercare.

Complications are quite rare; simply following your dentist's instructions should guarantee a smooth process throughout the procedure and healing period.

Alternative Procedures

If you aren't concerned with excess gum tissue and have other gum-related issues, such as receding or thin gums, treatments such as grafting might be a better option. Plenty of patients who are suffering from gum tissue loss wonder:

• When is it too late for gum grafting? : It's very rarely too late; if your remaining gum tissue is healthy and can support the graft, you're good to go.
• Are you awake for gum grafting? : You will indeed be awake for the procedure as it's performed under local anaesthetics, you’ll be fully conscious but entirely comfortable throughout.

For patients suffering from an excessive buildup of plaque on their gums (gum buildup), gum scaling might be necessary before gum contouring.

Gum Contouring: Definitely Worth It

Whether it's laser gum contouring or a traditional gum cutting procedure you settle on, you will likely get pleasing results that boost your confidence and improve your overall oral health. With a painless procedure and speedy healing period, you’ll be smiling brighter and cleaning your mouth more effectively almost immediately, making the procedure a very valuable one indeed. It isn't about vanity, it’s about health and self-assurance.