It’s a shame for anyone to feel embarrassed about the appearance of their mouth, as a lack of confidence like this can mean that you feel bad about smiling at all. One common reason that people may feel less confident about their mouth is a ‘gummy smile’, when the gums appear too large and teeth too small. Thankfully, help is at hand from Liverpool Dental Implant and Aesthetic Spa in Central Liverpool.

What is a ‘gummy smile’?

This occurs when there is a larger percentage of gum tissue than usual covering someone’s teeth. It is usually most pronounced on the front teeth, which are the teeth that other people see the most, although it can affect other, more out-of-sight teeth as well. The most common reason for a ‘gummy smile’ is a simple matter of genetics, but sometimes it can be linked to other health issues or the side effects of some medication for high blood pressure. By and large, a ‘gummy smile’ is not a health risk per se, but it does affect a person’s appearance, and thus it can lead to many people feeling unconfident, which can in turn cause emotional suffering. However, it can be easily treated, using a procedure known as gum contouring.

What does gum contouring involve?

Gum contouring is a procedure to remove excess gum tissue, thus making the teeth appear longer and improving the overall appearance of the smile. The process is relatively quick and simple. Firstly, a local anaesthetic is administered to the area to be treated. Then, a scalpel or a laser is used to remove some of the excess gum from around the front teeth. In addition to removing tissue, your dentist will reshape the gum slightly, ensuring a better final appearance. The healing after the treatment is relatively quick as well.