Gum Contouring in Holladay, UT

Contouring makes small, careful changes to the shape and length of teeth so your smile line looks even, and it is often done in one visit.

Services→Cosmetic Dentistry→Gum Contouring in Holladay, UT

Sometimes nothing is wrong with your teeth. One just sits a little longer, or a little pointier, than the ones beside it. Contouring is the gentle answer to that kind of thing, and most people are surprised how small a change it takes to even a smile out.

If you have excessive gum tissue over your teeth, resulting in a gummy smile, Dr. David S. Cannon provides gum contouring services in Holladay, Utah. Our dentist can contour your gums with a soft tissue laser so that you can walk out with a fuller smile and little discomfort. Call Pinnacle Dental at 801-274-3889 to learn more so you can decide whether this is a service you would like to receive.

Cosmetic contouring is a service designed to improve the shape of your teeth and enhance the overall appearance of your smile. In the cosmetic tooth contouring procedure, our dentist and team remove small amounts of tooth enamel, which is the protective outer layer of the tooth. By making careful changes to the shape of the enamel, we correct cosmetic dental flaws and give your smile a more attractive appearance. In certain cases, we may recommend combining cosmetic contouring with dental bonding to achieve optimal results. Our team is typically able to complete cosmetic contouring in just one visit to our office, so you can achieve a more beautiful smile after a single appointment!

We may suggest cosmetic tooth contouring in order to make minor aesthetic changes to the size, length, surface or shape of your teeth. Tooth contouring can be used to correct:

Slight tooth overlapping
Irregularly shaped teeth
Teeth that appear too long or too large
Dips, bumps or other imperfections on the tooth surface
Chipped or cracked teeth
Adjacent teeth of unequal length
Teeth that look too pointed

Tooth contouring is a great choice for patients who are interested in making subtle changes to their smile to achieve a more inviting aesthetic. If you think cosmetic contouring may be the solution you need to enhance your smile, we welcome you to call or visit our office today. We are eager to help you reach all of your goals for your smile!

Reasons people come in for this

One front tooth looks longer than the one next to it
A tooth comes to a point and you would rather it did not
There is a small bump or ridge you keep finding with your tongue
Two teeth overlap just slightly at the edges
A tooth looks larger than its neighbors in photos
You want a subtle change, not a whole treatment plan

What it does for you

Most cases are finished in one appointment
Changes are made a little at a time
Nothing has to be made in a lab
Uneven edges stop drawing the eye
It can be combined with bonding when an edge needs building up
You can eat and get on with your day right afterward

About Gum Contouring

Contouring means shaping the outer surface of a tooth rather than adding anything to it. Dr. Cannon takes a very small amount at a time and stops to look, because the point is for people to notice a better smile and not a treatment. Where shaping on its own will not get there, he may suggest pairing it with bonding to build an edge back up.

Small changes, real difference
Usually one short appointment
Often no numbing needed
Pairs well with bonding

Benefits of Gum Contouring

The things that bother people about their smile are often measured in fractions of a millimeter. One long tooth or one pointed corner can be the exact spot your eye lands on in every photo. Evening it out is a small change that tends to make the whole smile look more settled, and it leaves the teeth you are happy with alone.

What to Expect

If the word contouring sounds alarming, it should not. This is one of the mildest things we do, with no stitches and no incisions, and often no numbing at all, though you can ask for it if you would feel better. Dr. Cannon goes slowly and hands you the mirror as he works, so you can say stop at any point. If it turns out contouring is not the right treatment for what bothers you, he will say so instead of doing it anyway.

Common Questions

Will it hurt?

Most people feel some pressure and a light vibration and nothing beyond that, which is why numbing is often not needed. If your teeth are sensitive, or you would simply rather be numb, say so and Dr. Cannon will use anesthetic. Nothing gets started until you say you are ready.

What exactly is being reshaped?

Contouring works on the visible surfaces and edges of the teeth themselves, smoothing away a very small amount to change their shape. If what bothers you is the gumline rather than the teeth, tell Dr. Cannon at your visit. He will look and tell you honestly whether this is the treatment that addresses it.

Will my teeth feel different afterward?

Usually smoother, especially if a rough edge had been catching your tongue. Some people notice brief sensitivity to cold that settles on its own. You can eat normally the same day.

Can it be undone?

Reshaping is not reversible, which is exactly why Dr. Cannon takes so little at a time and checks with you as he goes. If the change you want is bigger than reshaping should handle, the better answer is bonding or veneers, and he will tell you that at the start rather than partway through.

What does it cost?

It is one of the less expensive cosmetic treatments, but the price still depends on how many teeth are involved, so we will quote yours before we begin. We will also check your insurance and tell you what it does and does not cover. CareCredit® and our in-office membership plan are there if you are paying on your own.

Terms You May Hear

Contouring: Reshaping a tooth by smoothing away a very small amount of its surface, rather than adding material onto it.
Enamel: The hard outer layer of the tooth. There are no nerves in it, which is a large part of why reshaping it is usually comfortable.
Composite bonding: Tooth-colored material added onto a tooth. It is sometimes used alongside contouring, when an edge needs building up as well as smoothing.

Ready to Schedule Your Appointment?

Call 801-274-3889 and we will tell you whether contouring is enough.