Today, most people’s teeth and gums have aesthetic flaws despite being healthy teeth. As such, cosmetic dentists have offered viable solutions for aesthetic dental problems using non-invasive procedures, such as teeth whitening.
Although gums and teeth maintenance procedures go hand in hand, there are unique problems that affect them individually. For example, a cosmetic dentist will offer teeth whitening solutions for discolored teeth and laser treatment for receding gums.
Therefore, in this article, we will compare and contrast gum and tooth contouring procedures.
What is Tooth Contouring?
When you crack or break a tooth, a cosmetic dentist will remove some parts of the affected tooth’s enamel to correct its shape.
As such, tooth contouring is a dental process used to correct any aesthetic flaws that your teeth might have. Most people’s teeth overlap, misalign, or even crack when subjected to tough foods and surfaces.
Consequently, asymmetrical teeth lower your self-esteem, causing a significant negative impact on your social life. Additionally, cracked teeth can pave ways for other severe dental problems such as dental cavities, calling for more complex and invasive dental procedures.
How is Dental Contouring Done?
Once a dentist identifies the chipped or cracked tooth, they will order an x-ray on the tooth to determine how severe the crack is. Additionally, the x-ray reveals if there is pulp accumulation inside the tooth due to infections.
Afterward, the cosmetic dentist will carefully remove your tooth’s top enamel coat and round up the biting edges. Lastly, the dentist will apply a coat of dental filling material (dental bonding) to give your tooth a new enamel.
However, responsible cosmetic dentistry Farmington Hills involves recommending the most viable dental solutions for severe dental flaws that tooth contouring cannot correct, such as severely misaligned teeth (which would require braces).
Advantages of Tooth Contouring
- It is a simple, non-invasive dental procedure
- It is fast and offers instant results
- Your teeth require minimal maintenance after the procedure
Disadvantages of Tooth Contouring
- It may be costly, depending on the severity of the damage
- Some insurance covers may decline to pay for the treatment since it is a cosmetic procedure
- You may experience tooth sensitivity if the cosmetic dentist removes excess enamel material from your tooth
What is Gum Contouring?
There are a variety of dental problems that affects the human gums. Some of the most common gum problems include gingivitis, gum recession, and uneven gum lines.
A large number of people prefer gum contouring as a corrective measure for various gum problems and enhancing their dental appearance.
There are some gum problems that cannot be solved with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication, calling for advanced treatment procedures. Gum contouring is the medical term that describes gum reduction and regeneration procedures that correct major gum problems.
How is Gum Contouring Done?
Gum contouring is a corrective procedure for excessive or receding gums. Excessive gums are excess gum tissue that covers your teeth, making the teeth look smaller or closer to your lips.
Receding gums, on the other hand, is a gum condition where the gum tissue is insufficient, exposing too much of your tooth (sometimes up to the roots).
The gum contouring procedures for recessive and receding gums are different. For recessive gums, the process is much simpler because the cosmetic dentist will administer an anesthetic to numb your gum and mouth tissues.
Once the anesthetic kicks in, the dentist removes the excess gum tissue covering the teeth using a scalpel or a laser cutter. Afterward, the dentist trims the gum to create an even gum line.
The gum contouring process for receding gums is a bit complicated because it involves tissue grafting. Intrinsically, your cosmetic dentist will remove some flesh tissue from your mouth walls and attach it to the affected (receding) area. The dentist will repeat the tissue harvesting and grafting until your gum line is perfectly aligned.
Advantages of Gum Contouring
- High success rate if performed by an experienced cosmetic dentist
- Increased accuracy and precision
- Reduced recovery time
- Better oral health
Disadvantages of Gum Contouring
- Costly, especially for recessive gum contouring
- Allergic reactions due to the anesthetic
- Mild sensitivity and discomfort (especially for laser contouring)
- Risk of gum recession if too much gum tissue is removed during receding gum contouring
Conclusion
Tooth and gum contouring are important dental procedures that help improve your dental aesthetics. Before engaging a cosmetic dentist, check out their online reviews.
