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Gum Reduction Lower Manhattan

A gummy smile is where your gums overshadow your teeth when you smile. It’s fairly common. But most people don’t realize they can do something about it. Gum Reduction, also known as gum reshaping, is a cosmetic procedure to alter your gum line. But laser gum contouring has medical uses too. If your dentist needs to access more of a specific tooth or certain teeth, this procedure is a minimally invasive method. Regardless of the reason, you need to get gum contouring, make sure you call on a dentist like Dr. Alex Shalman, who practices both general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry. Call his boutique dentistry office for the best gum contouring anywhere.

If you’re struggling with gum tissue overgrowth or an uneven gum line, you may not like your smile. You may feel your teeth look too small, too square or not prominent enough. Contouring, or reducing, the gums to reveal more of your teeth can improve your smile. But gum contouring also has medical uses. Dr. Alex Shalman performs gum reduction or contouring for any reason in his boutique dentistry practice.

Why Do I Need Gum Contouring?

If you’re looking to improve your smile and self-confidence, consider gum contouring surgery for reasons that include:

• The process is a quick dental procedure that usually only takes about an hour.
• It’s the least invasive way to fix overgrown gums.
• You experience almost no recovery time.
• The laser seals the tissue as it cuts, so no stitches are necessary.
• The seal from the laser means the tissue won’t grow back.
• Laser gum contouring leaves you with a natural-looking smile.

Gum reshaping isn’t just to make your smile more attractive; there are distinct health advantages to the procedure, as well. Excess soft tissue in your mouth can become an entryway for bacteria to enter your body. This is one of the primary reasons dentists urge you to brush twice a day and floss once a day: to keep your mouth clean and reduce the risk of bacteria build-up.

If you have more gum tissue than usual, bacteria build up in the folds and crevices, where your floss and toothbrush can’t reach. To keep your teeth, gums and whole body healthy, Dr. Shalman may recommend gum contouring.

As an added benefit, your teeth and smile look better when more of your teeth show. This is similar to a crown lengthening procedure, but crown lengthening is usually done to prepare for a second dental procedure, such as to make room for a dental crown over a tooth that’s compromised.

What Are the Benefits of Laser Gum Recontouring?

Laser gum contouring is a modern treatment that is highly effective and much more comfortable for patients with fewer side effects and quicker healing afterward. Using a dental laser to remove excess gum tissue is extremely quick as the laser energy cuts away the excess tissue very cleanly and precisely. The laser energy produces an effect called thermocoagulation, where any small blood vessels are sealed automatically by the laser’s energy, eliminating any risk of bleeding, infection, and the need for stitches.

Another advantage is that patients who receive this treatment often find it far preferable because the laser is quiet, and there is none of the heat and noise associated with a dental drill. Laser gum reshaping it’s also a quicker treatment compared with other procedures, so appointment times may be shorter.

Is a Gum Lift Painful?

Because laser dentistry is such a gentle treatment, any discomfort should be minor. Before beginning the procedure, a local anesthetic may be used to numb the gums being treated to ensure your comfort.

How Long Does the Procedure Take?

Generally, the entire procedure takes about 1 to 2 hours.

What to Expect During Your Consultation?

During your initial consultation, the specialist will thoroughly examine your gums, teeth, and surrounding oral structures to determine whether laser gum contouring is right for you. If he discovers any evidence of gum disease or other problems, you must be treated for those conditions before continuing with any cosmetic treatment. If you are a good candidate for gum contouring, Dr. Shalman will explain the procedure to you and discuss your treatment goals, including the shape of your desired gum line and the areas you are most concerned with.

How Is the Gum Contouring Process Done?

Typically, Dr. Shalman uses a laser tool in his office to perform gum contouring. Dental-grade lasers are precise and safe, especially when handled by the best cosmetic dentists in Downtown Manhattan, led by Dr. Shalman. The light and heat of the laser seal off the tissues, so bleeding is kept to a minimum. With local anesthesia, you don’t feel any pain. Gum reshaping isn’t just a cosmetic procedure. A family dentist like Dr. Shalman sometimes does it as well.

Your dentist uses a soft tissue laser for gum contouring surgery, as it allows him the flexibility to:

• Shape the gum tissue to even out your gum line
• Remove gum tissue to make way for a crown or other follow-up procedures
• Correct any damage done by periodontal disease
• Address receding gums
• Remove any pockets of tissue that may be hiding bacteria
• Find areas in your mouth that may need a gum graft

Where Can I Get Gum Contouring Done?

Dr. Shalman’s boutique dentistry practice in Lower Manhattan serves the West Village, East Village and Chelsea neighborhoods. He may suggest gum reduction during one of your regular check-ups and do it then. He may also opt to perform other surgical procedures at the same time, due to the non-invasive nature of gum reduction.

Gum contouring may be classified as either a medical or a cosmetic process, depending on why you’re having the procedure. If you want the process to reveal more of your teeth as part of a smile makeover, it’s considered a cosmetic procedure that your insurance may not cover. If your dentist recommends the procedure to fix a broken tooth or a seriously decayed tooth, it’s a medical procedure.

What Is the Recovery Process like after a Gum Lift Procedure?

After treatment is finished, most patients feel entirely comfortable. If it occurs, any discomfort is normally easily controlled with over-the-counter painkillers. The recovery process should be very straightforward, typically taking a few days to a couple of weeks.

Your doctor will give you lots of advice and information on how to look after your gums while they heal. In general, your dentist’s aftercare instructions will entail the following:

• Keep the surgery site clean and stick to a softer diet until your gums heal fully.
• Take the prescribed medication as advised to help increase the efficacy of treatment.
• Visit your doctor once your gums have fully healed to evaluate them and decide if any further touching is necessary.

As your gums begin to heal, you should notice they look healthier than before and that they fit more snugly around your teeth.