Periodontal Oral or Gum Surgery Birmingham, AL
Gummy Smile
Treatment
Gum lifts also known as gum contouring is a solution for what is called “gummy smile” where too much gum tissue is shown when smiling and talking.
Your smile line or the teeth you show when you smile, can be influenced by several different factors which include:
- The shape and size of your lips
- Lip movement
- Facial muscles
- Gum tissue development
- The shape and size of your teeth
Your teeth aren’t necessarily too short, but are simply covered up by an excess of gum tissue, creating a gummy looking smile. Sometimes this can affect most of the front teeth, but other times only a few teeth may need treatment.
Gum recontouring can help correct an otherwise uneven gum line so it creates a more harmonious appearance, enabling the gums to beautifully frame the teeth. Ideally, you shouldn’t show very much gum tissue at all when smiling.
What Is The Procedure for Gum Recontouring?
Gum recountouring will often be carried out by Dr. Maddux using a laser to remove excess gum tissue. He will identify how much gum tissue needs to be removed in order to get an improved gum line. In some cases, he may decide to remove some bone from the front of the tooth roots to give the best results.
Dr. Maddux will use local anesthetic to numb the area but any discomfort should be minor, especially with laser gum surgery. Treatment is very fast, and the laser automatically seals any small blood vessels so there is virtually no bleeding during or after treatment. The use of a dental laser also helps to keep swelling to a minimum, and reduces the risk of any infection.
Once treatment is completed Dr. Maddux will provide you with comprehensive instructions on how to care for your gums as they heal, including advice on how to keep the area clean, and the type of foods to eat during the first few days. It is best to stick to soft, cool foods and to avoid anything especially spicy, or any seeds that could get stuck in your gums.
Benefits of Laser Dentistry for Gum Lift
Many conventional gum lift dental techniques require a local anesthetic and will use a scalpel to reshape or recontour tissues. With laser dentistry, you are far less likely to need a local anesthetic because gum lift treatment is far more comfortable. Also, the energy produced by a dental laser has an effect called thermocoagulation so that if during your gum lift procedure Dr. Maddux needs to cut any small blood vessels, these are immediately sealed through this process, preventing bleeding and decreasing the risk of infection.
The energy produced by a dental laser is also very useful in getting rid of bacteria that cause disease. Gum lift laser treatment is extremely precise too, so if Dr. Maddux needs to reshape your gums or needs to remove tissues that are severely damaged or infected, using a dental laser will ensure only these tissues are removed. This makes sure that all the healthy tissue is left intact.
Usually, gumlift treatment with a dental laser at our office is quick and smooth. Afterward, you can expect healing to be faster and more comfortable with fewer side-effects such as swelling. This is because you won’t be left with an open wound as you would with more conventional dental procedures and where a scalpel would typically be used. Because you aren’t left with any open wounds, the risk of infection during gum lift procedure is reduced.