Gum Surgery

Cosmetic gum surgery has come as a boon for the many such problems which have stolen smile from the faces of many. Especially those who have the “long tooth” or the “gummy smile” look do not dare to smile in public. But with cosmetic gum surgery these people can now have their dream smile within no time. Also those who suffer from collapsed gums in the place of a missing tooth, blackened areas between implants, crowns or other teeth and tooth sensitivity caused by receding gums can breathe the sigh of relief.

‘Long tooth’ and ‘gummy smile’ is caused by many different factors. It can be due to aging, gum disease or poor oral hygiene. With aging our gum shrinks naturally leaving extra exposed teeth around the gum line. On the other hand ‘gummy smile’ is caused due to the extra gum tissue which spreads over the teeth and makes your teeth look smaller.

The cosmetic surgeries for ‘gummy smile’ and ‘long tooth’ differ to a large extend. For gummy tooth the dentist has to remove the excess gum tissue and also the excess bone. By using soft-tissue laser he reduces the excess gum tissue while a specialized laser is used to reduce extra bone. The problem of ‘long tooth’ is solved by the process which is similar to that of skin grafting. The cosmetic dentist removes the skin from the palatal area of your mouth and then grafts it on your gum line. This veneers the extra exposed tooth space and gives a perfect look to your teeth.

The surgeries however are not simple as it sound and may take more than one sitting. You need to discuss the whole process with your dentist and understand the thing that he would be doing. To gain a perfect smile sometimes these procedures are not enough and you need to consult your cosmetic dentist to know what else he will do to give you the smile you always wanted. Apart from the cosmetic gum surgery your dentist might use veneers, bridges, crowns or other cosmetic dentistry treatments to get your smile looking its best.

Generally the surgery is performed under local anesthesia and you remain conscious whole through the process, but the dentist might also give you a general anesthesia and perform the task all together n a single day. This is done in the case of long tooth, when the skin is cut from the palatal area put on the exposed gum line. However general anesthesia should not be given frequently and consult your dentist before opting for one.

After the gum surgery it is time to recover. It takes time to recover from this type of surgery and you should take special care of your mouth to avoid infection. Ask the dentist or the hygienist to demonstrate you how you should brush your teeth during the healing period. They usually suggest you to use an antibacterial mouthwash for at least two weeks after the surgery to prevent infections. Use it without forgetting. Also have liquid food for a week or two. Nutritious liquid foods like soups, oatmeal, and yoghurt are good for this period. DO NOT try to chew strong and hard food material, this may rapture the stitched area and cause bleeding and pain.

A cosmetic surgery is a costly procedure; consult your dentist to know his rates. Rates differ and see to it that they do not have any hidden expenditure which may bother you latter. And most importantly choose a qualified dentist who has performed many such surgeries successfully to do your job. Carry out a little research work on the dentist before trusting him your teeth.  With all the above things, go ahead and flaunt a perfect smile.