Gum Contouring Cost?
There are a few different terms for the gum contouring procedure, including gum sculpting, gum lift, and gingivectomy, but the basic goal of removing and reshaping the gum tissue remains the same. The goal of the gum contouring procedure is to modify the amount and position of the gums to create a more natural, balanced appearance between the gums and teeth when smiling. Gum contouring is a straightforward cosmetic procedure that is used to improve an excessively gummy smile or redesign an uneven gum line. Because the procedure is primarily cosmetic, it is not usually covered by dental insurance, which can raise questions about the cost of the procedure. While the cost of gum contouring varies from case to case, it generally costs between $50 and $350 to contour the gum tissue around a single tooth. It’s uncommon, however, for gingival overgrowth or asymmetry to exist around only one tooth, which means that the total cost for a gum contouring treatment could add up to $2,000 or $3,000, if not more. Gum contouring may also be one step in an overall restoration of the smile, which could include treatment of decay or disease and restoration of individual teeth, which cause the overall cost to increase.
What is Included in Gum Contouring, and What are the Potential Additional Costs?
Gum contouring procedures can be performed by dentists and periodontists, dental specialists who focus specifically on issues with the gums and other oral tissues. The procedure involves anesthesia, usually a local anesthetic that numbs the surgical site, which precedes the resculpting of gingival tissue with scalpels, lasers, or other surgical tools. The goal of a gum contouring procedure is to remove excess tissue and reshape existing tissue, reshaping the gum line and improving its symmetrical appearance. In some cases, though by no means all, dental specialists may also need to remove small amounts of bone near the roots of the tooth, which improves long-term outcomes; if you need this additional modification, called crown lengthening, your dentist will discuss this with you as you plan your procedure. In most cases, gum contouring is performed in a single office visit that can last anywhere from 15-30 minutes to a few hours, depending on the amount and nature of the tissue that’s being contoured. Healing time usually corresponds to the complexity of the procedure as well. For example, it may take 30 minutes to remove a small amount of gum tissue, and recovery may last less than a week, while crown lengthening that removes bone could take an hour or two and recovery could take four to six weeks.
When gum contouring is paired with other treatments, which is common in cases of a smile redesign, these additional treatments increase the overall treatment cost. Many times, gum contouring patients also wish to improve the shape, size, or overall appearance of the teeth, which could involve veneers, bonding, or dental crowns. Dental veneers cost between $500 and $1000 per tooth, while bonding prices start at around $100 per tooth and max out at around $1000 per tooth. Crowns, which require more preparation, planning, design, and materials, range in price from $500 to $3000 per tooth, if not more. Gum contouring may be included in the overall cost of some of these other cosmetic procedures, and your dentist will give you the details if you need a combination of treatments to address your concerns. Check with your dental insurance provider to learn which elements, if any, of these procedures might be covered for you. If you find that your insurance won’t cover the procedures you’re seeking, ask your dentist about financing options that might be available to help defray the costs of your rebalanced, redesigned smile.