How Much Does Gum Contouring Cost?
Whether you’ve always had issues with the appearance of your gums, or just recently you started to notice, the way your gums look can dramatically influence the appearance of your smile. Having what is called a “gummy" smile in when the teeth appear smaller than they actually are due to the size of the gums. Some individuals are born with oversized or misshaped gums due to genetics. And for some it can be a side effect of prescription medications causing the gums to grow over the teeth. Thankfully, there is a dental procedure that can help reduce the appearance of oversized gums. Gum contouring, often called a gum lift or gum reshaping, is a procedure where damaged or excess gum tissue is removed and the remaining tissue is shaped to fit better in proportion to your teeth. Gum contouring can not only improve the appearance of gums but be used for medical purposes to treat and prevent the advancement of gum disease. Below is more information on the gum contouring procedure and the typical costs of the treatment.
The Typical Costs of a Gum Contouring Procedure
As with most dental procedures, the cost of gum contouring can range broadly, and depends on several key factors. Costs will vary depending on:
- Extent of work needed: is the reshaping needed around one tooth or many teeth?
- Geographic location and local rates
- Dentist expertise and training
With these factors considered you can typically expect the procedure to cost anywhere between $50-$350 to remove excess gum and shape remaining gum. More extensive procedures that work on all of the gum tissue in the mouth and potentially the bone can cost between $1,000-$3,000 or more. It is important to know before discussing with your dentist that for most individuals the contouring procedure is considered cosmetic, and therefore many dental insurance plans will not cover it. Before developing a treatment plan with your dentist you should contact your insurance and see if your plan will cover some or all of the procedure.
What to Except from the Procedure
Gum contouring procedures can be performed by both dentists and periodontists. The procedure is relatively straightforward with minimal risks. During the procedure you can expect the following to occur:
- The dentist will numb the area with a local anesthetic
- Next, they will use a scalpel or a laser to cut away the excess unwanted tissue
- Last, they will reshape the remaining gums and use the laser to seal the gum tissue to minimize bleeding
In general, this procedure will be completed in just one dental visit and the results are typically permanent. The healing process may require a few days to a few weeks. If you are interested in pursuing gum contouring consult your insurance company for a list of approved dentists and periodontists who perform gum contouring treatment. Another option is to consult the websites for the American Dental Association, American Academy of Periodontology or the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists and get a list of members who are local to your area.
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