At Chisholm Trail Smile Center, Dr. Matthew Bridges offers a full spectrum of cosmetic care. Contact us today to learn more about gum contouring and to find out if it is the optimal treatment for you.

What Is Gum Contouring?

During gum contouring, also known as a gum lift, Dr. Bridges will remove a tiny amount of soft tissue to raise and reshape your gum line. Your gums will be numb during the procedure, and Dr. Bridges will only remove a few millimeters of tissue at most. Therefore, you should experience minimal discomfort. 

Treatment for a Gummy Smile 

A gum lift can address a condition known as a “gummy smile.” This condition does not have any adverse health effects. Nonetheless, when you have excess gum tissue, it can have a notable impact on your appearance, making your teeth look small or worn down. It may make you appear older than you are or, conversely, it can give your smile a childlike look. 

Excess gum tissue, also known as gingival hyperplasia or hypertrophy, can occur for a number of reasons. These include: 

• Inflammation due to a buildup of plaque on the teeth
• Certain medications
• Pregnancy
• Hormone imbalances
• Diseases such as leukemia 

In many cases, gingival hyperplasia is simply congenital. 

Candidates for Gum Contouring

If you have a gummy smile or a crooked gum line, gum contouring may be right for you. Before undergoing a gum lift, however, you should have good dental and periodontal health. If you have active decay or gum disease, Dr. Bridges will need to treat these conditions before beginning cosmetic care. 

What to Expect after Treatment

Following a gum lift, you should expect some minor swelling and inflammation. Typically, over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen are enough to keep discomfort at bay. While the treatment requires little downtime, you may need to limit strenuous activity for a few days. 

For at least two or three days following surgery, you will need to eat a soft diet to avoid irritating your sensitive tissue. Some good foods to include in your diet are: 

• Cottage cheese
• Scrambled eggs
• Soups without large bits of meat
• Ice cream
• Smoothies

A full recovery should take no more than a few weeks. 

Combining Gum Contouring with Other Cosmetic Procedures

Gum contouring can have dramatic effects for your smile by itself. Nonetheless, many patients choose to combine a gum lift with additional treatment for even more comprehensive effects. Common procedures to combine include: 

• Porcelain veneers
• Teeth whitening 
• Tooth contouring 
• Composite veneers (dental bonding)

Dr. Bridges can advise you regarding which procedure or procedures you ought to undergo first. 

Contact Us to Schedule a Cosmetic Consultation

Learn more about gum contouring and the results you can expect. To contact us, you can send us a message online or you can call us at (580) 255-4880. Dr. Bridges and his friendly team proudly treat patients in Duncan, OK, and the nearby communities. 

The post Try Gum Contouring for a Bigger, Brighter Smile!  appeared first on Chisholm Trail.

Do you want to correct your “gummy” smile? Visit Chisholm Trail Smile Center and Dr. Matthew Bridges will explain the details. Call our Duncan OK dental office at (580) 255-4880 for an appointment.

Crown Lengthening – How it Works

The fix for a gummy smile is called crown lengthening because it makes the crowns of your teeth appear to be longer than before. Your teeth are not altered in any way, of course. Instead, the gum tissue surrounding your teeth is carefully reshaped. During a short surgical procedure, a very small amount of gum tissue is carefully removed at strategic points. This creates a more aesthetically pleasing ratio of gum-to-tooth in your smile. This process is done conservatively, to preserve the majority of your gum tissue for good oral health.

Dr. Bridges provides crown lengthening in our office, with the use of a local anesthetic. This ensures you do not feel any pain during the treatment. However, you may have some soreness and swelling afterward, as is the case with most surgical procedures.

Advantages of crown lengthening:

• It only needs to be done once, for permanent results.
• The treatment takes only about 30-60 minutes.
• May reduce risk of tooth decay at the gum line.

Don’t I Need All My Gum Tissue?

Most people have the right amount of gum tissue to support the teeth and protect the roots. Damage from gum disease can cause gum recession. This is harmful to the teeth because it exposes tooth roots, which are not protected by tooth enamel. For most people, losing gum tissue puts the teeth at risk.

Patients who complain of a gummy smile, however, usually have more gum tissue than is needed. If you are interested in this procedure, we carefully examine your teeth to make sure this is the case. For most patients, it is possible to safely remove a small amount of gingival tissue from above the teeth that show when you smile—without exposing the tooth roots. This procedure has been done for years as a component of restorative treatments, and it is now accepted as a safe cosmetic treatment, as well.

Who is a Good Candidate for Crown Lengthening?

If you are in a generally good state of oral health you may be a good candidate for crown lengthening. If you are showing any signs of gingivitis or gum disease, however, you may need to have periodontal treatments before you can be evaluated as a candidate for crown lengthening.

Contact our Duncan OK dental office if you are interested in learning more about cosmetic crown lengthening and gum surgery. Visit us for a consultation and we will explain how it works, as well as the estimated costs. Call us at (580) 255-4880 for an appointment.

The post Don’t Like Your “Gummy” Smile? We Can Fix That! appeared first on Chisholm Trail.

Did you know you can receive BOTOX® Cosmetic or JUVÉDERM® at your dentist’s office? It’s true! As long as they are certified in administering facial esthetics, you can brighten your smile and smooth facial wrinkles all under the same roof in a matter of minutes.

Men and women who are dissatisfied with their smiles and appearance due to certain imperfections find that cosmetic dentistry and facial esthetics effectively compliment each other, which is why it is growing in popularity in the dental industry. And being able to receive both all at the same location makes treatment more convenient.

Dr. Matthew Bridges and the team at Chisholm Trail Smile Center are excited to offer this innovative treatment for patients living in the Duncan, OK area. Continue reading to learn more about this popular cosmetic dentistry treatment, or book your consultation today by visiting us online or calling (580) 255-4880.

Say Goodbye to Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Fine lines and wrinkles may be a natural part of age, but that doesn’t mean you have to succumb to them. Facial esthetics provide patients who are young at heart or are aging early as a result of genetics, stress, and environmental factors the opportunity to reverse signs of aging. Your face is one of the first areas to begin aging, revealing wrinkles around the eyes, lips, nose, and forehead. As collagen production declines, the cheeks will also start to sink in and sag, creating an undefined jawline and make you appear haggard and much older than your years.

BOTOX® Cosmetic injections are primarily used for fine lines and wrinkles. When injected directly into the underlying tissues, it suppresses the contraction of nearby muscles so that the facial creases are immediately smoothed. JUVÉDERM® is a type of dermal filler that is used as a way of adding volume to the cheeks and lips so that facial contours are smoother and more defined. When performed by an expert, you can enjoy a more youthful and energetic countenance and boost in self-confidence.

Improve Your Smile’s Appearance

Take a look in the mirror and inspect your smile for a moment. Do you notice more gums than teeth? Excess gum tissue is a common concern that causes what is known as a “gummy smile,” and is twice as more likely to occur in women than men. This condition is traditionally treated with gum contouring using scalpel and sutures. But if you are looking for a less invasive treatment, Dr. Bridges can use BOTOX® to improve your smile’s appearance by making a few strategically placed injections into your upper lip. This will relax the lip elevators and reduce the amount of gum shown when smiling. If thin lips are the reason for your gum exposure, volume can be added to your lips using JUVÉDERM® dermal filler.

Suffer From Headaches or TMJ Disorder?

Dr. Bridges can also use BOTOX® as a conservative treatment for treating headaches as related to TMJ disorder and jaw clenching. When the temporomandibular joints located on either side of the jaw become irritated or inflamed, it can result in chronic headaches, jaw pain, lockjaw, and make chewing difficult. By injecting BOTOX® into the surrounding jaw muscles, your muscles will immediately relax and reduce tension in the jaw, giving the TMJs time to heal.

Learn More About Facial Esthetics

If you are interested in learning more about BOTOX® and JUVÉDERM®, we invite you in for a consultation where we will discuss all the benefits. Please contact our Duncan, OK practice today online or by calling (580) 255-4880.

The post BOTOX® and JUVÉDERM® at Your Dental Office? appeared first on Chisholm Trail.