A gingivectomy surgery may‌ be recommended when your oral health would benefit from the removal of gum tissue that is no longer healthy or is affecting the appearance of your smile․ This important procedure can prevent more severe dental problems from occurring in‌ the future․

One of the most common uses for gingivectomy is‌ treatment of advanced periodontal disease‌ or periodontitis․ Plaque and‌ bacteria build up‌ on the gums at the base of the teeth‚ resulting in inflammation and infection․ Over time‚ this causes your‌ gums to move away from your‌ teeth allowing more space for the bacteria and plaque to grow․ These‌ pockets cannot be cleaned by‌ brushing and flossing your teeth at home․ The bacteria in the pockets‚ if‌ not removed by cleaning‚ will increase‌ further‚ increasing the infection and start causing bone loss in your jaw․ A gingivectomy removes diseased gum tissue and reduces the pocket’s depth to‌ create‌ a healthier environment for the teeth and gums․

You may also benefit from this if you have gum overgrowth as a result of taking certain medications‚ experiencing hormonal changes‚ or having too much plaque buildup over time․ Too much gum tissue in your mouth can make it difficult to keep your teeth clean‚ leaving you more‌ vulnerable to cavities and gum inflammation․ Removing the excess gum tissue can help․

Depending on the size of your teeth and where your gums meet your teeth‚ a gingivectomy may be used to treat a gummy smile‌ for cosmetic reasons․ If your gums cover too much of your teeth, your teeth may look small or uneven. The proportions of your‌ smile may be out of balance‚ even if your teeth are healthy․ It‌ is possible to reshape the gumline with a gum lift․ This brings more of the natural tooth surface to‌ show for an improved visual balance․ Though this is generally used for cosmetic‌ purposes‚ it can also be functional․

A gingivectomy may also be performed to prepare gums for another dental treatment‚ such as a crown‚ bridge‚ or other dental restoration․ To do so‚ in most cases‚ excess gum tissue must first be removed to allow for placement of a crown, veneer, or dental bonding material․ A well-shaped gumline helps your dentist to better place restorations in a natural manner and improve their longevity․

You may need the procedure if you have had a deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing treatment, in the past to address gum disease but the treatment didn’t get rid of the disease entirely․ Sometimes deep cleaning is not enough to remove all the bacteria below the gumline․ Alternatively‚ a gingivectomy‚ a surgical procedure to cut away the tissue‚ may be performed to provide your gums with an opportunity to heal correctly․

Whether it’s to combat gum disease or for aesthetic reasons‚ a gingivectomy seeks to create a healthier and more stable foundation for your mouth‚ thereby improving your oral health and quality of life․

If you have more questions about gingivectomies or how they could help you achieve better dental health, make an appointment with the dentist to see if a gingivectomy is the best treatment plan for you.

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