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Healing After Gum Contouring

Have you recently been considering a gum contouring in palm beach gardens florida treatment, but you are wondering what to expect from the procedure and the recovery? Gum contouring, often called gum reshaping, is a dental procedure that can be used to treat misshapen or misaligned gums or to treat the advancement of periodontal disease. For some people, gum contouring is the solution to fix the appearance of the gums and the overall smile. For others, gum contouring treatment is exactly what they need to stop their gum disease progression. Below is more information on what to expect from the gum contouring procedure and the post-procedure recovery period.

Gum Contouring Procedure

You may be surprised to hear that the gum contouring procedure is relatively simple and quick. The treatment can be performed by a general dentist or a periodontist. The dentist will use a scalpel and a small laser to trim away the excess tissue, reshape the gum line, and seal the tissue to prevent further bleeding. Prior to performing the procedure, the dentist will administer a local anesthetic to numb the tissue and reduce any discomfort. While gum contouring for periodontal treatment may be more extensive, the entire procedure can usually be done in just one dental visit.

Post-procedure Recovery Time

The recovery from gum contouring is just as easy as the procedure itself. In general, it takes a few days to a few weeks for the gum tissue to heal completely. A little discomfort and pain should be expected immediately after the procedure and should be expected to last a few days. This pain and discomfort should be easy for you to manage on your own if you follow your post-procedure instructions. Here are some easy tips you can follow to help your gums heal quickly:

  • Pain and discomfort: Your dentist will likely recommend you try over the counter pain relievers to help with pain. However, it is important that medications with aspirin be avoided because they thin blood and can cause extra bleeding.
  • Keep your gums clean: After the procedure, it is important to keep your treated gums clean to help them heal. Your dentist may recommend a saline rinse (a teaspoon of salt is added to eight ounces of warm water and a capful of hydrogen peroxide), to help keep the area clean.
  • Daily Hygiene: Additionally, continuing to brush and floss your teeth daily is important to help keep your teeth and gums clean. However, you may need to be more gentle than usual.
  • Diet: Avoiding foods that can irritate the tender tissue is important to minimize pain. Hard and crunchy can cause irritation to the tender tissue and should be avoided. Your dentist will likely recommend that you try to stick to soft foods, such as yogurt, pasta, and soft veggies for a few days post-procedure.
  • Limit Activity: It is important to limit your physical activity, especially strenuous activity like running and working out, for a few days post-procedure. Too much activity will cause blood to flow to the area, which will increase pain, swelling and can even cause bleeding.

More information on Gum Contouring : What is gum contouring?