Gum Contouring
Gum reshaping or contouring is a procedure performed to reshape the gums if they rest too low or too high on your teeth. In order to reshape the gum tissue, a line is drawn to mark the new gum line. Once approved, anesthesia is applied to the area and the contouring begins. A dental instrument (typically a scalpel or laser) is used to reshape the gum tissue and trim away any extra tissue overhanging the tooth.
“I have a gummy smile or uneven gum line.”
You’re not alone. An uneven gum line gives the appearance that your smile is off balanced, but our oral surgeons in McLean, VA, Dr. Gocke can help. He can use his skills with gum contouring or crown lengthening to sculpt your gums and expose just the right amount of tooth evenly.
“My teeth look long because my roots are exposed.”
Gum recession is common among many in the community, leaving the tooth root exposed. This gives the illusion of longer teeth and could make you look older. With gum grafting, Dr. Gocke can cover exposed tooth roots, stop gum recession, and protect your smile from decay and sensitivity.
“There are indentations in my gums or jawbone.”
Do you have missing teeth? If so, your jawbone will start receding because it doesn’t have support from a tooth. You’ll see indentations in the gums and jawbone AND your face will appear sunken. To fix the indentations, Dr. Gocke can perform ridge augmentation to recapture the natural contour of your gums and jaw. Then, he can place a dental implant to give your mouth the support it needs to look and function naturally.