Gum Contouring

Excess gum tissue can make your teeth look small or give you an unbalanced smile. Reshaping your gummy smile with laser treatment from Dr. Rick Heard is minimally invasive and produces immediate results. See how board-certified periodontist Rick H. Heard can enhance your smile with gum contouring treatment at his Victoria, TX, practice.

Why Consider Gum Contouring?

A specialized laser precisely removes excess gum tissue.

Gum contouring is a cosmetic procedure that removes excess gum tissue, giving patients a more balanced smile. Patients who have gummy smiles and teeth that appear too small for their gums will benefit from this cosmetic treatment. After gum tissue is removed, your teeth will be more proportional to your mouth.

Gum Contouring Is Quick and Simple

Unleash You Smile Contact Our Periodontist Today

Excessive gum tissue can make your teeth appear short, and an uneven gumline can even make a tooth appear crooked. Cosmetic treatment from Rick H. Heard, DDS, will refine your gumline to improve the appearance of your teeth.

As a periodontist, Dr. Heard is an expert in gum care. He can address advanced oral health issues involving your gums and teeth at his Victoria, TX, dentistry office.

Request a consultation today if you're interested in cosmetic dentistry and altering your gumline, or call:

(361) 573-1014

Contact Our Victoria Office

5-Star Patient Reviews

The TEAM at Gulf Coast Periodontics is first class. Dr. Rick is the VERY BEST!!! Victoria is so lucky to have such a talented and kind periodontist.

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Most friendly and helpful staff ever! Stellar care AND timely appointments. No one wants to have to go to an oral surgeon, but this group works hard to make the best of it.

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Do you feel unhappy about your gumline?

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Let Gulf Coast Periodontics reshape your smile. Rick H. Heard, DDS, is a board-certified periodontist who has been helping patients just like you for over 20 years.

What Our Periodontist Can Do For You

Reshaping Your Gums With Laser Treatment

Traditional treatment for gum contouring consists of using a scalpel to manually cut away extra gum tissue. Dr. Heard uses state-of-the-art soft tissue lasers for greater precision and comfort. Our laser technology includes the Biolase Waterlase Express, which provides gentle but effective treatment.

The state-of-the-art dental tool uses a laser to remove tissue, cauterizing the gums. Water is used to hydrate the gums, soothing the tissue after the laser's heat.

Worried About Pain? We Offer Sedation Dentistry

Our Victoria dental practice offers sedation options for patients who have dental phobia or problems staying still. Our anesthesiologists Derrick Garrett and Steve Janececk are board-certified doctors who will prioritize your safety and comfort.

Learn About Sedation Dentistry

Patient Candidacy For Gum Contouring

Uneven or Gummy Smile

If you have a low gumline that hides your teeth and makes them look crooked or small, it may make you feel self-conscious to the point that you avoid smiling.

Good Oral Health

If you have tooth decay or gum disease, these conditions must be treated by a dentist before gum contouring. Dr. Heard will review your oral health and recommend corresponding treatments.

Realistic Expectations

Contouring can transform a gummy smile into a healthy-looking and balanced one, but it's not a complete makeover of your smile. Before your treatment, Dr. Heard will discuss the changes to your gumline and what your new smile will look like.

The Gum Contouring Procedure

Wondering what to expect at our Victoria, TX, dentist's office? After a consultation, Rick H. Heard, DDS, will perform gum contouring in just one office visit. Dr. Heard will explain your individual treatment in more detail, but patients can generally expect:

"Laser gum contouring can be completed in a single visit."

Consultation

Dr. Heard will examine your gums and teeth. After listening to your smile goals, our periodontist will assess if you're right for gum contouring. If so, he'll schedule you for treatment.

Local Anesthesia

Laser gum treatment has minimal pain compared to many other dental procedures. To minimize discomfort, Dr. Heard will administer a local anesthetic. If you have dental anxiety or trouble sitting still in the dental chair, we offer sedation that can help you feel at ease. If you choose to undergo sedation, you may need to have a loved one drive you home after your procedure, depending on the sedation used.

Gum Reshaping

Dr. Heard will use a soft tissue laser to gently cut away excess gum tissue. Taking a conservative approach, your dentist will only remove enough tissue to make each tooth look uniform and balanced.

Post Treatment

You can expect some minor swelling and soreness after your treatment. However, you should be able to get back to your everyday schedule in quick time.

I Want to Transform My Smile

Aftercare

Recovering from gum contouring is quick and easy compared to most dental procedures. Any minor soreness and swelling should fade in about a week or less. During your recovery, Dr. Heard recommends the following:

Recovery after gum contouring is relatively short. If you experience any excessive bleeding or consistent pain, contact our Victoria dental office.

Covering the Cost of Treatment

Gum contouring is considered cosmetic dentistry and is usually not covered by dental insurance. Our Victoria, TX, dental practice strives to make treatment accessible to patients who believe their quality of life will improve from dental procedures like contouring.

In addition to accepting all major credit cards and checks, Gulf Coast Periodontics accepts CareCredit® financing. Patients who use CareCredit to cover the cost of treatment can make payments in monthly installments, making treatment costs easier to manage.

If cost is keeping you from seeking treatment for your gums, Dr. Heard and his staff will be happy to see if you qualify for financing.