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Gum Contouring In Singapore: What You Need To Know

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Portrait of Dr Jing Liang Ooi
Dr Jing Liang Ooi

March 26th, 2019· 5 min read

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A gummy smile can lead to insecurity about one's appearance. Patients with gum conditions may be considering gum contouring, which is a cosmetic dentistry treatment.

Dentist Dr Ooi Jing Liang is familiar with various gum and dental treatments. In response to a Human reader's question, he provided details on the process of gum contouring in Singapore. Here's what he had to share.

What is gum contouring?

closeup of gums being treated by a dentist

Gum contouring is the process of removing gum tissue to shape the appearance of teeth. This may be done for patients whose smiles reveal a greater proportion of gum than they would prefer, or a lower proportion of visible teeth than desired.

Occasionally, gum contouring involves the addition of gum tissue in patients who have recessing gums. [1]

Gum contouring is largely an aesthetic procedure

first part of dr ooi's answer to gum contouring question

For the most part, gum contouring is performed for aesthetic purposes on patients who desire more ideal proportions for their teeth in relation to the amount of gums being shown.

Full answer here.

It’s also performed for restorative purposes

first part of dr ooi's answer to gum contouring question

Gum contouring can also be used as part of the process of restoring a severely broken tooth back to normal function.

Full answer here.

Both procedures can be done by laser or scalpel

last part of dr ooi's answer to gum contouring question

Whether it’s for restorative or aesthetic purposes, a gum contouring procedure can be carried out surgically by the scalpel or by dental lasers. This process normally takes about two to four hours.

Full answer here.

smiling teeth on a person

Do note that gum contouring typically requires local anaesthetic and may sometimes involve removal of some bone. So plan ahead for a recovery period of a few days.

Gum sensitivity is normal during your recovery period. You will be given pain relief if needed and may have to go on a soft diet for the days after surgery.

Do inform your dentist if you are planning any future dental procedures, so that he or she can discuss what the final result of your dental treatment will look like and how your treatment schedule will go.

This will help you plan your daily schedule around your dental work for minimal interruption.

Would you like to ask any related health questions?

You can Ask A Doctor right away, or view the complete list of Human Sessions.


I hope that you've found this guide useful, and perhaps gained more insight into the application process. Most of the admissions-related information (admin and logistics wise) can be found on the official NUS Faculty of Dentistry website.

To help yourself out, you should take note of what people look for when they look for a dentist.

This article was written by Dr Jing Liang Ooi and published on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. Human medically reviewed the article on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. The last update was made on Friday, 18 September 2020.

Disclaimer: Opinions belong to the author and not to the platform.

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