The difference between tooth and gum contouring is as simple as their names imply: tooth contouring has to do with the teeth and gum contouring with the gums. While the difference may be apparent, do you know what contouring your smile means? Both tooth contouring and gum contouring can help you to reshape your smile’s appearance. In some cases the reshaping can help transform the health of your smile, too. Your dental team in Lafayette, LA can help you to better understand if tooth contouring or gum contouring can help you with your smile’s specific needs.
Tooth Contouring
In many cosmetic smile situations, an issue needs to be covered up or added to. For example, if you have a surface level crack or if you have chipped off a corner of your tooth, cosmetic bonding may be a good way to deal with it. However, when part of your tooth needs to be smoothed down for the sake of your overall smile’s appearance, tooth contouring may be the technique used. For example, if you have a pointy tooth or a tooth that looks much larger than the rest, tooth contouring can make that tooth blend in better with the rest of the smile. The procedure is always done in the most conservative way possible to preserve the health of the smile.
Gum Contouring
The appearance of the teeth is not the only thing that affects the way your smile looks. Your gum tissue can play a role in your smile’s appearance, too. If you have a disproportionately large amount of gum tissue to teeth, your smile may look unbalanced. Your smile could also be at a greater risk of gum disease. Gum contouring is the act of conservatively removing some gum tissue. Laser gum contouring can be done in a precision way that leaves no need for sutures or long recovery times.
Do you want to contour your smile?
Both tooth and gum contouring can help you transform your smile. To schedule a consultation, call the office of Michael J. Young, DDS, in Lafayette, LA, today at 337-237-6453. We proudly serve patients from Breaux Bridge, Broussard, Scott, Youngsville, and surrounding communities
