Cosmetic Gum Reshaping
Some people show their upper gums when they smile. When this is the case a gum reshaping treatment may be desirable. To help our patients understand the effect on their smile we do computer imaging so they can see the before and after before they have anything done.
If the patient has a generalized excessive gum display when they smile and their teeth appear stubby a GUM LIFT will reveal the teeth that have been hidden by the excess gum tissue and reduce the gummy appearance of their smile. A GUM LIFT is a minor surgical procedure done in our office with the Biolase MD laser. This laser along with modern techniques and oral sedation allows Dr. Sowell to provide our patient’s with comfortable treatment and minimal post treatment discomfort. Patient’s always return to work the next day and do not need pain medication because the laser is so kind to the body tissues.
If the patient’s teeth appear different lengths and lack symmetry from the left side of the smile to the right, then a GUM LEVELING treatment may be suggested. This can be subtractive or additive. When a tooth looks short and the gum level comes down too far on the upper teeth in the smile compared to the other teeth gum levels, then gum is removed on the tooth out of harmony and this is called an ESTHETIC CROWN LENGTHENING treatment. Again this is all done with Biolase MD laser. If the opposite is true and a tooth looks long in relation to the other teeth in the smile and the gum goes too high then gum may need to be added in this case to provide the patient with a beautiful harmonious smile from left to right. This treatment is called a SUBEPITHELIAL CONNECTIVE TISSUE GRAFT, which is a long name for taking some tissue from the palate and positioning it over the exposed long root of the tooth that the patient has recession on. Just like the other treatments, there is no post treatment discomfort reported by patients over hundreds of treatments.
The beauty of this science and technology is we can correct a lack of symmetry and gum display predictably without the patient going through a recovery period from an esthetic or comfort point of view. Patients esthetic crown lengthening have the treatment one day and are back at work the next day. All these treatments are performed in our office for patient convenience and predictability. You may hear people talk about gum reshaping and in reality they are talking about only altering the gum up to one millimeter, which technically is called a GINGIVECTOMY. The capabilities of this treatment are limited and the dentist needs more advanced training to provide true ESTHETIC CROWN LENGTHENING and SUBEPITHELIAL CONNECTIVE TISSUES GRAFTS. In most offices this would require a referral to a periodontist.
Often for young patients with attractive teeth this would be all the treatment needed when the gums show in the smile. For others the gum reshaping sets up the perfect back drop or back ground to rearrange the teeth with Invisalign or for patients wanting more than what braces can offer like changes in size and color, it sets up a perfect background for porcelain veneers or direct bonding, enabling me to achieve balance and symmetry to the smile.
We invite you to call our smile concierge team today. Schedule your complimentary smile consultation at 972-468-0967
*Cosmetic Dentistry is not recognized as a specialty area by the American Dental Association or the State Board of Dental Examiners.
