Gum appearance can have a meaningful effect on your smile‚ even if it’s not something that you think about on a daily basis or have ever considered․ The shape‚ height, and symmetry of your gumline all contribute to the overall balance between your teeth and soft tissue․ In cases of an uneven gumline‚ gum overgrowth‚ or too much gum tissue in the smile‚ the condition may be improved for cosmetic and functional purposes through a procedure known as gingivectomy․

Some people may have excessive gum tissue that makes the teeth appear to be short‚ or have a “gummy smile”‚ which means that when smiling a disproportionate amount of gum is exposed compared to tooth structure․ For some people it may be only a cosmetic concern‚ in others too much gum tissue can leave pockets that are harder to clean adequately․ A gingivectomy is performed to remove the extra gum to improve esthetics and allow for more effective oral hygeine treatments․

Uneven gumlines occur when the height of the gums varies around the teeth‚ creating an uneven smile․ Gingivectomies are performed when the gums are uneven‚ either naturally due to the shape of the mouth and jaw, gum disease, or adjustments from earlier dental work․ A gingivectomy can improve the symmetry of the mouth by giving the appearance of a uniform gumline‚ without addressing the shape or position of the teeth․

Plaque and the effects of periodontal disease can cause the gums to appear swollen‚ red, and irregular․ As the disease progresses‚ pockets between the teeth and gums can deepen beyond the point where they can be cleaned․ Gingivectomy in such cases can be used to improve the appearance, the cleanliness, and the strength of the gums, allowing them to offer stability to the teeth. Removing infected or overly enlarged gingival tissue will change the overall look of the gums and your smile․

Some medications‚ as well as hormones‚ can cause changes in the appearance of the gums‚ which can become more enlarged or overgrown․ If excess gum tissue affects the appearance of your smile or interferes with good oral hygiene‚ a gingivectomy will reduce it to the proper proportions to allow you to keep your mouth clean by traditional brushing and flossing at home between dental cleanings․

Gingivectomies must be completed with precise attention to detail‚ and your dentist will consider how much tissue will be taken from the gums and what shape is best to achieve the look you are after․ Hand tools and/or laser technology will be used to achieve a natural look that is also durable․

You might see the effects of longer appearing teeth right away‚ including a new shape to the teeth and a more balanced gumline․ The tissue grows into its new shape during the healing process‚ improving the overall results even more over time․ Some residual sensitivity or tenderness is common during the recovery phases, but it will typically subside after a few weeks․

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.

Related Article: How Painful is a Gingivectomy