Is Gum Contouring Painful?
Gum contouring is a common dental treatment. The people most likely to be good candidates for this treatment are people who want to improve the overall look of their smile, symmetry, or utility by reshaping or removing extra gum tissue. Gum contouring is both for cosmetic purposes and to address periodontal concerns. As with any surgery, you may be concerned about pain or about discomfort from the gum contouring process, but you will feel more at ease when you understand exactly what the treatment is and how it will help you achieve your oral health goals. Let’s review how the procedure works, what to expect, and how discomfort is managed.
To start, the dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the area where you are having gum tissue addressed. Once the anesthesia is working, the dentist can begin treatment; waiting ensures you don’t feel pain while the work is being completed on your gums. The sensation felt during that procedure is typically limited to just pressure or an awareness of movement, but there may be a sharp or intense discomfort. If you have serious anxiety around any dental treatment or you are concerned about your sensitive gums, the dentist may be able to provide additional options for sedation to make the experience more comfortable.
There are a few different techniques and tools the dentist can use to complete your gum contouring, and these will also affect how you feel during and after the procedure. Depending on your specific treatment plan, the health of your gums, and the tools available to the dentist, the tool could be an advanced laser option or more customary surgical tools. More modern approaches to gum contouring use lasers since they tend to cause less bleeding, reduced swelling, and shorter healing time. Regardless of the tool the dentist uses, you can be sure that you will leave with the smallest impact on the surrounding tissue that still delivers the desired results.
Once the anesthetic wears off, you may feel sore or have some tenderness where you had the gum contouring. Usually, this discomfort is manageable and short-lived. In the first few days, most people find that over-the-counter pain relievers are sufficient. The dentist may suggest that you eat a soft diet temporarily while the area heals in order to avoid irritation. Slight swelling or sensitivity toward hot and cold temperatures may occur in some people. These effects generally improve within just a week, however.
For those undergoing wide-ranging contouring or contouring in multiple mouth areas, the healing period may be a little longer. Even in complex cases like these, pain is rarely described as severe. It is important to follow the aftercare instructions given by the dentist to ensure you heal quickly and without complications. These guidelines often suggest avoiding tobacco, gentle rinsing, and avoiding spicy or acidic food until your gums heal.
If you have more questions about gum contouring or how addressing it could work as a part of your treatment plan to achieve better dental health, make an appointment with the dentist to see if gum contouring is the best option for you.