Gum Contouring – A New Approach to A Beautiful Smile

The gums are a critical component of a patient’s smile. In addition to influencing a patient’s health, the gums can also enhance or detract from the overall aesthetics of a smile. For patients unsatisfied with how their smile looks, innovative gum contouring treatments have provided patients with a versatile, minimally invasive treatment capable of transforming their smiles.

What is Gum Contouring?
Simply put, gum contouring or re-shaping is the use of a specialized soft-tissue dental laser to reshape and realign the position of the gums in relation to the teeth. Given the versatility of the treatment, there are a number of conditions where gum contouring may be recommended. At our San Jose dental practice, we recommend gum contouring to correct gummy smiles.

The Innovation behind Gum Contouring
Part of the benefit of this treatment comes from the tools used to reshape the gums. Unlike traditional surgical tools, soft tissue diode lasers use an extremely narrow beam of light energy to remove extra tissue from the surgical site. As the instrument cauterizes the tissue during the treatment, there is limited post-procedural bleeding, reducing discomfort during the recovery phase. Additionally, by encouraging coagulation in-treatment, soft tissue lasers lower the risk of bacteria entering the point of incision, reducing the likelihood of post-treatment infection.

In recent years, soft tissue lasers have been used as part of a periodontal treatment therapy. During this procedure, the lasers eliminate bacteria from within the periodontal pockets while sterilizes the tissue. Similar to the re-contouring procedure, the coagulation that is stimulated by the laser helps to accelerate healing while also encouraging reattachment of the gums to the tooth. As a result, soft tissue lasers are quickly becoming the preferred treatment method for efficiently treating the gums.

Who is a Candidate for Gum Contouring?
As mentioned, this cosmetic treatment is often recommended for patients unsatisfied with an abundancy of gum tissue, creating the appearance of a gummy smile. Gum reshaping may also be recommended as a regenerative procedure for patients suffering from gum recession as a result of periodontal disease.

At Willow Glen Dentistry, our San Jose dentist Dr. John Pisacane works with patients to identify points of improvement in their smile and to develop comprehensive solutions for helping individuals achieve their idea smile. For patients seeking extensive gingival treatments, our dentist collaborates closely with area periodontists to ensure consistency in treatment and post-treatment care. For more information about gum contouring in San Jose, please contact the Willow Glen dental team today.

Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces

Whether you’re looking to correct orthodontic relapse or are undergoing braces for the first time, fully understanding your orthodontic options can ensure that you receive the right treatment for your needs. When weighing your braces options, consider the following factors:

The Condition of Your Bite

For patients with severe bite or jaw misalignment, the clear aligning trays used by Invisalign® may not be enough to effectively treat these advanced dental conditions. As traditional braces use a series of metal brackets and wires that are manually adjusted by your orthodontist on a monthly basis, this more comprehensive treatment option may be the better method of comprehensively addressing these treatment issues.

In contrast, patients with minor crowding or rotation may find the comprehensive nature of traditional braces to be unnecessary. For these individuals, Invisalign® may provide a less invasive treatment option.

Patient Diligence vs. Convenience

Part of the appeal of Invisalign® comes from the ability to remove the aligners independently, eliminating the number of required visits. While this feature certainly improves the convenience of treatment, this also requires greater patient diligence to a more regimented treatment plan. In order for patients to achieve their ideal results, individuals must be committed to wearing their aligning trays for a minimum 22 hours per day, removing them for cleaning and before eating or drinking anything other than water. With this in mind, Invisalign® is often reserved for adult patients that are able to stick with this more structured treatment plan.

Treatment Experience

While traditional braces have come a long way in regards to appearance and materials, they are not necessarily known as the most comfortable treatment option. As this system uses metal brackets and wires to correct tooth alignment, patients may experience soft tissue irritation and tooth discomfort. Additionally, patients with metal braces are required to maintain a more restrictive diet that avoids sticky, hard foods in order to prevent the braces from breaking.

On the other hand, Invisalign® uses clear plastic aligners to gently move the teeth. As these trays as custom-made to each smile, patients do not experience the same irritation associated with traditional braces. As the aligners are clear, Invisalign® provides patients with a more aesthetic treatment options that is virtually unnoticeable. For adult patients that are looking to discreetly correct alignment issues, the clear nature of Invisalign® makes the treatment an ideal, professional treatment option.

Invisalign® in San Jose

At Willow Glen Dentistry, our team is committed to helping patients determine the right treatment solution for their smile. For patients looking to discreetly improve the alignment of their teeth, San Jose dentist Dr. John Pisacane offers Invisalign®. To learn more about this clear alternative to braces, contact our practice today.