Gum Contouring Cost
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Whether it’s a disease or even a response to a prescription medication, the gums, due to these problems, can begin to accumulate atop the teeth, causing what’s known as a “gummy” smile, making the teeth look smaller than they truly are.
Commonly referred to as a gum lift or gum reshaping, this procedure removes any damaged and/or extra gum tissue and is often followed by a procedure known as a gingivoplasty, a procedure which will help shape, and thin out the gum tissue left after the gum lift in order to create a natural look.
If your gums are either resting too lower or are even too high on your teeth, you may be considered a candidate for the procedure.
How much does gum contouring cost?
The costs of a gum contour greatly depends on a variety of factors, including the severity of the work, the amount of work which needs to be done, your geographical location, and dentist/periodontist you use. As most procedures often include the whole mouth, the entire procedure, without any sort of insurance, can range anywhere from $1,500 to $3,200. Do keep in mind these costs can be much higher if you needed other work done such as dental crowns or veneers — procedures which are often done in sync with a contour.
As for just a limited area, such as treating the gums above one or two teeth, then the costs can often be much lower, usually around $225 to $450 per tooth.
On RealSelf.com, for instance, more than 30 members reported they paid an average of $1,950 for the procedure.
DocShop.com mentions the costs of laser gum contouring can vary greatly by the patient, depending on the amount of gum that needs to be treated. According to their report, the average costs can range anywhere from $300 to $3,000, with the costs be on the lower end if you needed just one or two teeth done or much more if the entire gum line needs to be contoured.
As this procedure is deemed a cosmetic procedure, almost all dental insurance companies will not cover the procedure.
| Prices sourced online for full mouth... |
|---|
| $2,100 in Austin, TX |
| $1,800 in Spokane, WA |
| $3,100 in Sioux Falls, SD |
| $2,700 in Charleston, SC |
| $2,600 in Miami, FL |
| $1,750 in Fort Lauderdale, FL |
| $2,550 in Nashville, TN |
| $1,950 in San Francisco, CA |
The gum contouring procedure
Either a dentist or a periodontist can perform this procedure right inside of their office.
In the past, a dentist would be reduced with a scalpel, which, for most, would cause an uncomfortable situation and a lot of bleeding. Today, however, many dentists use a laser technology and tools such as a diode laser in order to sculpt the perfect smile.
At the start of the procedure, the dentist will first numb the affected area with a local anesthetic to help eliminate any discomfort you may feel during the procedure.
Next, the dentist will use a diode laser to trim away any of the excess gum tissue to sculpt a naturally, uniform, scalloped-looking gum line. As the laser is cutting, it also cauterizes, which means less bleeding a lower chance of an infection, according to DocShop.com. The whole process, essentially, cuts away any excess gum tissue and will reshape the gums to create a natural look.
The entire procedure, from start to finish, can take less than 60 minutes and can easily be performed inside of your local dentist’s office. Most patients will only need one appointment and results are usually permanent. In complex cases, however, surgical sculpting, maxillofacial surgery or orthodontics may be required to see desirable results.
Recovery
After the procedure, it may take up to a few weeks for your gums to completely heal, and your dentist will offer specific directions about what you can do in order to help aid the healing process.
For the most part, your dentist will tell you to take an OTC pain reliever whenever you feel pain and ask you to refrain from eating any spicy or hard foods.
What causes uneven gums?
According to WebMD. there are a variety of factors which could cause your uneven gums. For one, genetics, a health problem or even the medications you take can affect your gums.
Gums that are too high can often make your teeth appear longer or unnatural, often causing most to be unhappy or self-conscious with their smile. In some cases, if you left ignored, it can lead to serious dental problems in the future such as tooth loss or decay or can even be a sign of periodontal disease.
While, most of the time, this procedure isn’t necessary, many choose this cosmetic procedure as a way to improve their smile to restore their confidence. However, in rare cases, this surgery may be considered as part of other procedures such as a crown lengthening or a pocket reduction.
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