Gum
contouring

Gum contouring is a dental procedure that modifies the gum tissue around the teeth, changing its shape, size and appearance. The goal is to improve the aesthetics of the smile and create harmony between the teeth and gums. This procedure is most often performed before aesthetic filling of the teeth or restoration with veneers.

Gum contouring is most often performed when:

Too much gum tissue shows when smiling. A gummy smile can be caused by genetic factors, certain medications or an incorrect bite. Gum contouring is used to remove the excess gum tissue. This exposes more of the tooth crown, creating a more proportionate and harmonious smile.

Uneven gum contour. Asymmetrical gums can affect the overall harmony of the smile and lead to an imbalance in appearance. In such cases, gum contouring is performed to create an even, symmetrical gum contour.

Gum recession. Gum tissue recedes from the tooth, exposing the root, which causes sensitivity and tooth crowns that look disproportionate. In such cases, the aim of gum contouring is to add missing gum tissue back onto the tooth and create a healthy, harmonious gum contour.

At our clinic, smile and gum-contour design planning is carried out by aesthetics specialist Gintarė Žmuidinavičienė, while the gum work itself is performed by a professional in his field, periodontist Dr Rokas Borusevičius. You can feel reassured that in the hands of these specialists you will leave not only with a harmonious, aesthetic new smile, but the procedure will be performed professionally and painlessly, ensuring smooth healing.

Procedure steps:

Consultation (15–30 min). Gum condition, contour, tooth proportions and overall smile harmony are evaluated. Expectations and possibilities are discussed. The number of teeth requiring gum correction is decided, the correction method is selected and the cost is calculated.

Laser correction or smile design planning.

• If only minimal correction of individual gums is required before aesthetic filling and full contour planning is not needed, gum correction is usually carried out with a laser during the same visit as the aesthetic filling. Laser correction is fast, painless, heals quickly and leaves no wounds. Redness may be noticeable for a few days, with full healing in 2 weeks. Excellent individual oral care is important for smooth healing. This method is only suitable for minor corrections that do not require bone contouring.
• If smile design planning and larger gum correction is required, facial photographs are taken first and impressions of the jaws are taken to plan the new contour and produce a surgical guide tray (15–30 min).

Try-in of the surgical guide tray (15 min).

Gum correction procedure with the periodontist using the produced surgical guide:

• local anaesthesia is administered;
• the gums are corrected using the produced guide with a laser or scalpel, and the bone is contoured;
• sutures are placed in the interdental spaces and removed after 5–7 days;
• full stable healing and the formation of a new biological width take 1–3 months (after this period, aesthetic procedures can be performed);
• excellent individual oral hygiene is essential for smooth healing.

Recommendations before the procedure:

1. Have professional oral hygiene done (no longer than 6–12 months ago).
2. Bring a panoramic X-ray with you.
3. Come to the procedure after eating and with thoroughly cleaned teeth and interdental spaces.

Treatment results

Before

After

Gintarė Žmuidinavičienė

Specialist in aesthetic fillings and prosthetics

New gum contour planning, gum surgery, tooth whitening and aesthetic filling of 6 teeth to restore tooth wear, adjust tooth proportions, close unwanted gaps between the teeth and even out colour variations. The gum surgery was performed by Dr R. Borusevičius, and gum contour planning and aesthetic filling by Dr G. Žmuidinavičienė. More results