Soft Tissue Recontouring - Charleston, SC
Reshape the Gum Line for an Attractive, Healthy Smile
What Is Soft Tissue Recontouring?
Soft tissue recontouring is both a cosmetic dentistry and periodontal procedure that reshapes the gum line to enhance smile appearance, improve gum health or enable functional restoration of a tooth. For patients who have a “gummy smile” or teeth that appear to short, esthetic soft tissue recontouring (also known as crown lengthening) can transform the smile line to create a more aesthetically appealing tooth-to-gum-ratio. Others who have decay or damage on a tooth at or below the gum line benefit from functional soft tissue contouring in Charleston, SC, which provides access to effectively treat and restore these teeth. Whether your soft tissue recontouring needs are esthetic or functional, Dr. Robert Carimi has the skills and expertise to restore health, function and cosmetic appeal to your smile.
The Esthetic Results of Soft Tissue Recontouring
Gum tissues are important not only for protecting tooth roots, but also framing the teeth to create a balanced, beautiful smile. An uneven or gummy smile line gives the appearance of having too much gum tissue and not enough tooth structure. With esthetic soft tissue recontouring, Dr. Robert Carimi removes excess gum tissue from around the teeth, gently sculpting a new and improved gum line to reveal a greater surface area of tooth structure. This improves esthetic appeal of the smile while minimizing areas for harmful bacteria to hide, and ultimately improving gum health. Soft tissue recontouring is a relatively simple procedure with minimal recovery time.
Soft Tissue Recontouring for Functional Needs
Tooth decay or damage near or below the gum line is difficult to effectively treat and restore with a crown or filling – there simply is not enough tooth structure visibly available to which a restoration can adhere. In these cases, Dr. Carimi must perform soft tissue recontouring by removing a small amount of gum tissue (and sometimes bone) from around the affected tooth. Functional soft tissue recontouring in Charleston, SC, improves the field of view to treat decay or damage, and increases the amount of space and tooth structure available for Dr. Carimi to place a restoration. Once the area heals, Dr. Carimi can return health to your tooth and smile by restoring the tooth with a crown or filling.