COSMETIC GUM SURGERY

• Cosmetic Gum Surgery Procedures
• Advantages & Disadvantages
• F.A.Q's

In the search for the ultimate “smile makeover” it is still possible to improve a patient’s smile where there is actually nothing wrong with their teeth! Cosmetic gum surgery, or periodontal plastic surgery, can correct almost any deformity or gingival problems preventing you from a beautiful smile. Cosmetic gum surgery is beneficial in cases where there is excessive display of gums or where there is gum recession. In short , it involves the management of gingival defects and deformities that may be preventing you from having the smile you always wanted. Among these are:

• A "gummy" smile
• Uneven gum line due to "short" teeth or receding gums ("long" teeth)
• Lost or "collapsed" gums due to missing teeth
• "Black holes" between your teeth, crowns, bridges, or implants
• The exposure of unerupted teeth

The gum tissue is like a frame that provides form and shape to the top of your tooth. A less than attractive smile results when the integrity of the gum is compromised or the actual gum between your teeth becomes weak. Usually due to poor hygiene (gum disease), you actually begin to lose gum tissue.

Used to correct a 'gummy smile' (a significant portion of your gum is exposed when you smile), cosmetic gum surgery is the procedure of lengthening your teeth from the neck of the tooth upwards. Your teeth then appear to be longer and much less gum is seen when you smile.

The "Long Tooth" Smile - As we age, our gums may shrink and recede which makes our teeth look longer. While this is often age-related, it can also occur due to a bad bite.

The "Gummy Smile" - This is a problem where your teeth appear to be too short. Gum sculpting is often the solution. To solve this, a procedure is used to remove the excess tissue of your "gummy" smile, which then exposes more of your tooth.

Types of Cosmetic Gum Surgery Procedures

There are two primary procedures for cosmetic gum surgery, depending on your current smile.

"Gummy Smile" (Excessive Gingival Display)

A "Gummy Smile" can occur due to wear of teeth from teeth grinding, a short upper lip, or having a longer than usual upper jawbone. This smile is when your teeth appear too small and your gums appear to large.

"Long Tooth Smile" (Gum Recession)

As your gums recede, your teeth appear longer than normal. While "long teeth" may result in an unattractive smile, you should also be concerned with root sensitivity and possible tooth loss. Recent advances in techniques and materials have resulted in significant improvements in both comfort, predictability and esthetics.

Cosmetic Gum Surgery Procedures

• To Correct a "Gummy Smile"
Cosmetic gum surgery can be done to reduce the excess gum and bone. The removal of these tissues allows for normal sized teeth and for a normal gum line appearance by using an instrument, to remove the undesirable tissue.

• To Correct a "Long Tooth Smile"
As your gums recede, your teeth look much "longer" than normal. Such gum recession exposes your sensitive root surface which often makes hot or cold foods and drinks a painful experience. Teeth can become loose as your gum recedes. The cosmetic gum surgery solution is basically done by removing tissue from the roof of your mouth and then grafting it onto your gum line. This tissue then reinforces thin gums or fills in areas where your gums have receded.

• Gum Contouring
In the case of a “gummy smile”, the gums are simply too big or appear too big when the patient smiles.

Where gum tissue overgrows to cover more of the tooth than is desirable, a cosmetic dental technique called gum contouring can be used.

Sometimes the gum tissue overgrows in certain sections of the mouth causing the smile to look lopsided or uneven – in these cases, selective gum contouring is used to “even-up” the smile.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Cosmetic Gum Surgery

Advantages:

• Healing is usually quick and your more youthful and beautiful smile is obvious early on.
• It has been reported that cosmetic gum surgery additionally improves the health of your gums.
• The procedure to correct receding gums may even reduce your tooth sensitivity to cold or hot foods or beverages while protecting your roots from decay and lessening further gum shrinkage.

Disadvantages:

• Cosmetic gum surgery is of course, surgery which is often performed in segments under a local anesthetic.

FAQ's