How a Periodontist can Contour Your Gum Line
Most people think of cosmetic dental procedures as being mainly concerned with the teeth, and that's definitely true—most cosmetic treatments do involve fixing aesthetic issues relating to the teeth. However, some problems are caused by gum issues, and when this is the case there are treatment options a periodontist can offer to improve the appearance of the gums.
Gum Contouring
One aesthetic issue that can affect the gums is when there's either too much or not enough visible gum tissue. This can cause problems with the appearance of your smile because the amount of gum tissue you have affects whether your teeth look in proportion to the rest of your mouth. If you have excess gum tissue your teeth can look too small; if you have less gum tissue than normal—for instance due to receding gums—your teeth may look too large.
In both cases, a periodontist can perform a surgical procedure called gum contouring, in which they use surgical tools and techniques to redefine the gum line. For instance, they may use a scalpel or laser to remove excess gum tissue or perform a tissue graft to extend the gum line.
Tissue Removal
When gum tissue is removed, the procedure is called crown lengthening, because it’s performed to lengthen the amount of exposed tooth surface. This surgery can be performed as a stand-alone procedure to contour the gum line or can be performed as part of the preparation for other cosmetic dentistry procedures. With advanced tools such as surgical lasers, crown lengthening is a fast and simple procedure with a quick recovery time.
Tissue Graft
A tissue graft is performed when the gum line is too high or has receded due to an oral health problem such as gum disease. This procedure can be performed for cosmetic reasons but it can also be an important part of treating gum disease and preventing long-term oral health problems. This is because gum recession can expose the roots of teeth and leave them highly vulnerable to infection and tooth loss.
To repair the gum line, small pieces of tissue are removed from a healthy part of the gums or from the roof of the mouth and are used as gum tissue grafts. Recovering from graft surgery is a bit more involved than recovering from laser removal, as the healing process takes longer and care must be taken to ensure the grafts are able to heal undisturbed.