Gum Contouring Cost

Gum contouring is an excellent option to correct things like a gummy smile, an uneven gum line, and periodontal disease. Gum issues can be a result of medications, poor oral hygiene, or even genetics. Your doctor can even use gum contouring to prepare a tooth for restoration. A soft tissue laser is used for gum contouring and is a relatively simple in-office procedure that, depending on severity, takes 15 minutes to an hour.

What is the gum contouring procedure?

Before you follow through with gum contouring, your doctor will have you come in for a separate visit to discuss your treatment plan and determine exactly what you want to do, how long it will take, and how much it will cost.

To begin, your doctor will apply a numbing agent prior to administering a shot with a local anesthetic to the area to be treated. Once you are numb, your doctor will use a soft tissue laser, or maybe a scalpel, to remove any excess tissue in the case of a gummy smile and even gum line or to reshape the tissue and eradicate any plaque buildup in the gum pockets, as with periodontal disease.

Most patients need about 10 days to recover fully but if you allow yourself to rest and follow your doctor’s post-op instructions, you may be back in action in a week. Your doctor will give you directions on oral hygiene after your surgery and what foods to avoid. They will also give you an antibiotic medication that should be taken in full to prevent infection.

How much does gum contouring cost?

During your treatment plan appointment, your doctor will be able to give you a close estimate of what your overall cost will be. Gum contouring can range from $50 to $350 per tooth and having all of your front teeth done at once can cost between $1,000 and $3,000. If you have dental insurance, they may cover some of the cost for gum contouring treatment if it is deemed medically necessary, as with Periodontal Associates. Fixing a gummy smile or uneven gum line is typically considered cosmetic and insurance will not cover.

Are there any other costs with gum contouring?

If your doctor is contouring your gums to prepare your teeth for restorative work, then you can expect additional fees. Tooth-colored restorations and bonding can add another $150 to $750 per tooth and crowns and veneers can add another $500 to $2,000 per tooth.

Are there any financing options available?

Aside from dental insurance, your dental office may have an in-house financing program that they can offer you. There are also third-party financing companies that a lot of medical offices use. Your financing options are something that you should discuss with your dental office before beginning treatment. You can have your dentist send in a pre-treatment estimate to your insurance company to get a ballpark idea of what they may cover for your gum contouring procedure.

More on Gum Contouring : What is Gum Contouring?