Nowadays, expectations in terms of aesthetics have become more important. Periodontal Plastic Surgery refers to cosmetic procedures performed on the gums to enhance the appearance and health of the smile. There are varieties of procedures that can be performed to enhance the smile. The most popular of which are among the following.
Esthetic Crown Lengthening
Those who feel that they have a “gummy” smile can greatly benefit from esthetic crown lengthening. This relatively simple procedure usually takes about an hour to perform and is essentially a “gum lift”. During the procedure, our gum specialist removes excess gum and bone tissue and reshapes the smile to expose more of the natural tooth. While the procedure can be performed on just one tooth, it is most often done to the entire smile. The end result is that more of the natural tooth is exposed creating a wider, more beautiful smile.
Functional Crown Lengthening
Sometimes functional crown lengthening will be needed in order to perform a cosmetic or restorative procedure. This may be the case if a tooth is too far decayed, broken below the gum line, or has insufficient structure for restoration like a crown or bridge. In cases like this, our gum specialist may be required to lower the gum and bone levels to expose more of the root surface so that it can be restored. However, simply trimming back the gum line is not sufficient. Many dentists simply do this and usually the gums reposition back to the pre-operative shape and position. Instead, the dentist will need to reshape the gums and supporting bone to allow adequate room to place a high quality restoration without violating the natural gum to bone dimensions.
Gum Grafting
Receding gums is a condition in which the gum line is gradually lowered, leaving a larger portion of the tooth exposed thus violating the aesthetic recommended width-to-length ratio of teeth.. In fact, this process happens so gradually that patients often do not know they are suffering until the symptoms become dramatic and /or very obvious. These symptoms can include increased sensitivity, inflammation of the gums, and teeth that appear longer than usual. Because the gums are the only protection that the tooth root has from bacteria, receding gums can be considered a serious condition. Besides being esthetically not pleasing, it can often leave teeth vulnerable to sensitivity, decay and cavities. For this reason, it is important to treat receding gums as early as possible.
Ridge Augmentation
Ridge augmentation is a common procedure performed to help recreate the natural contour of the gums. Often, after a tooth is removed, the bone in the jaw will begin to shrink and collapse in height and width. The height and width of the socket, which was supported by the tooth, will begin to shrink after the tooth is removed. Many patients will eventually develop an indentation in the gums or jawbone where the tooth used to be.
Restoring the original height and width of the socket is not usually medically necessary. However, it may be necessary in order to place a dental implant or for aesthetic purposes so that the replaced tooth wouldn’t look longer that its adjacent neighboring or contralateral teeth.
Ridge Preservation with Augmentation Before Tooth Replacement
Tooth loss causes the jawbone to recede and can lead to an unnatural indentation in your gums and jaw. This can easily contribute to an aging smile. The original look of your mouth may not be recaptured because of spaces remaining under and between replacement teeth. They may appear too long compared to nearby teeth.
Ridge preservation by bone grafting following tooth loss can preserve the socket and the contour of the gum. Because there is less shrinkage of the gum, a more aesthetic tooth replacement with an implant crown or fixed bridge can be achieved.
Indentations in the Gums and Jawbone
If you have lost one of your natural teeth or your are congenitally missing teeth, you might have noticed that there is an indentation in your gums where the tooth used or was supposed to be. This happens because the bone that once supported the tooth begins to shrink back, causing it to become smaller. As a result, any replacement tooth might look unusually long. To address this, a surgery known as ridge augmentation may be necessary. Ridge augmentation may involve both bone grafting and/or soft tissue grafting by inlay or onlay soft tissue gratfs.
Gingival Melanin Depigmentation
Gum pigmentation, especially in areas uncovered by the smile, has become a frequent reason of consultation. Melanin, is a pigment involved in gum pigmentation. This type of pigmentation presents as a diffuse brown and light brown spots at the gums. The accumulation of melanin can be physiological and called “racial pigmentation” or caused by several endogenous and exogenous factors, including tobacco smoking.
Hyperpigmentation has no gender predilection and may be observed in all races and at all ages. Given the considerable interest in gingival de-pigmentation, several treatments have been developed including scalpel gingivectomy, chemical treatment, cryosurgery, electrosurgery, abrasion with a diamond bur, and laser surgery.
At
Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center, we are confident in our ability to provide an unmatched periodontal plastic surgery service. Regardless of the type of surgery that you’re interested in and the problem that you’re facing, we’re on hand to help. When you choose our practice, you are choosing a team of skilled and experienced specialists. We understand the problems that being unhappy with your gum structure can have, which is why we will do everything we can to improve things. Call us, get an appointment and explore all available options to achieve the smile you are looking for.
