Gum lifts! Gummy smiles are one of dentistry’s unsolved challenges. You will notice in your research that most of the treatments you read about are extreme, unpredictable or potentially ineffective. Gum contouring is Dr Sahil’s approach to this, which is derived from a method developed through his work.

Gum contouring involves the use of a heat and electricity based instrument to remove a predetermined amount of gum tissue. It is performed under local anaesthesia, and is not painful. This may take up to 30 minutes.

In order to achieve the best result, whitening and tooth contouring is used simultaneously to brighten the teeth and harmonise the shapes of the teeth in view.

Immediately afterwards, the gum will appear darker, as the healing response is initiated. The healing is assisted by the dentist with an application of a collagen barrier at the end of the appointment. The gum will appear normal within two days, however, the complete biological healing process will take at least six months. Home care should involve effective tooth brushing twice daily and use of any additional aids suggested by the dentist. We always endeavor to arrange review appointments at one and six months following the treatment. We do this for two reasons:

To assess the healing and stability of the new gum position. Touch up contouring may be required.

To evaluate if the new gum position is acceptable it may be the first minimally invasive step towards reducing the gummy smile. The alternative treatment routes would still be available if desired.