Gum specialists (Periodontists) are often considered the plastic surgeons of dentistry. If you are looking to improve your smile, a periodontist may be able to at least partially help.
Gummy Smile or Uneven Gum Line
Do you feel your teeth look too short and your smile is too gummy or your gums cover too much of some teeth while leaving the others the right length? If so, dental crown lengthening might be the solution for you. During this procedure, excess gum tissue is removed to expose more of the crown of the tooth that has been covered by tissues. Then your gum-line is sculpted to give your new smile just the right look.
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Long Teeth/Exposed Roots
Sometimes gum recession causes the tooth root to become exposed, which makes your teeth look long and can make you look older than you are. Gum graft surgery and other root coverage procedures are designed to cover exposed roots, to reduce further gum recession and to protect vulnerable roots from decay.
Indentations in the Gums and Jawbone
Tooth loss can cause a horizontal and/or vertical indentation in the gums and jawbone where the tooth used to be. This happens because the jawbone resorbs (dissolves) when it is no longer holding a tooth in place. Not only is this indentation unnatural looking, it also causes the replacement tooth to look too long and/or away from the natural teeth curve, compared to the adjacent teeth. Gum grafts sometimes combined with bone grafts help restore the natural look and architecture of such areas to look harmonious with the adjacent teeth.
Ridge augmentation using soft tissue grafts and/or bone grafts can fill in this defect recapturing the natural contour of the gums and jaw. A new tooth whether an implant or part of a bridge, can then be fabricated that is natural looking, easy to clean and beautiful.
