Happy Chinese New Year Greetings to you! Thank you for your question regarding Gum Contouring. Dr Kelvin Chua and Dr Kenneth Tan have both answered very well, and I would like to add on to what they have already mentioned in their replies.
From my experience, gum contouring is usually done for aesthetic purposes to reduce the appearance of " gummy smiles" and to enable patients to smile more confidently, showing more teeth and less gums.
Gum contouring can also be done for patients who are unhappy with gums that appear asymmetrical or uneven. There is always beauty in teeth and gum symmetry, and a good dentist will usually plan for a symmetrical result during the assessment phase of your treatment.
It is often more pleasant to have a smile that shows teeth more fully, rather than to be dominated by too much gums showing.
Depending on the treatment plan that will be tailored for you, the dentist may plan to do gum contouring for one tooth, or several teeth.
In my practice, before we decide on how many teeth would require the gum contouring, my patients go through a process called Digital Smile Design.
During this process, patients get to see a 3D Virtual Preview on a computer screen of the final result and planned gum height before any surgery is done at all!
We then transfer this virtual preview into the patients mouth, using a resin material as a mock-up, for his/her final approval in the mirror, to minimise disappointment and unmet expectations.
In my opinion, the most important phase of the gum contouring surgery, is this treatment planning or preview phase, which allows all my patients to get a chance to appreciate the final planned result, before executing the treatment proper.
The typical fee for gum contouring surgery could cost anywhere from $500 to $2500, depending on the complexity of the surgery and the number of teeth involved.
It is beyond the scope of my reply to discuss with you factors that might affect the difficulty or complexity of your case.
With regards to the surgery itself and what to expect after the surgery, Dr Kelvin and Dr Kenneth have answered well.
I hope you find all of our answers useful, and do discuss some of these pointers with your trusted dentist!
Kind Regards,
Dr Gerald Tan
