A Great Smile Does Not Begin and End With Your Teeth – The Benefits of Cosmetic Gum Surgery
When the typical person thinks about what makes a great smile, they typically think of straight, white teeth. However, there is another dimension to a great smile that is often not given its full credit: nicely structured gums. Some smiles are gummy, where the teeth appear short. Other gums have or appear to have receded, giving a long-tooth look. Other gums are uneven or disproportionate. Fortunately, no matter what the condition of gums, almost all of them can be corrected or drastically improved through cosmetic gum surgery.
Cosmetic dentistry practices are very careful to address all aspects of your smile to give you the smile that will give you the most confidence as you present your best face to the world. Some cosmetic dentistry procedures such as crowns, veneers, and composite resin bonding will work in conjunction with cosmetic gum surgery to give the best over all look. Frequently all that is needed to make a nice smile fabulous is basic cosmetic gum surgery.
The procedure used to help a “gummy smile” is done by removing or cutting back a portion of the excessive gum, usually with the aid of a laser. The careful molding of your gum will result in a more perfectly framed smile and will give you the appearance of having larger teeth. The follow up care consists mainly of an antibacterial mouth rinse to prevent infection from setting in while you recover from the cosmetic gum surgery procedure.
Cosmetic gum surgery used to correct a “long toothy smile” is slightly more complicated as far as cosmetic gum surgery goes. In this procedure, the cosmetic dentistry periodontist will remove small amounts of skin from the roof of your mouth and graft it into your mouth around the gum line. In spite of the invasiveness of this procedure, the healing process is typically quick. The advantages to this surgery extend beyond the cosmetic improvement of your smile and into improvement of the actual health of your gums. You may find that you do not have the same sensitivity to hot or cold foods or drinks. Your roots will also be protected from decay as your gums will not suffer as much shrinkage.