When the average person thinks about what makes a great smile, they usually think of straight, white teeth. However, there is another feature to a great smile that is often not given enough consideration: nicely structured gums. Some smiles are gummy, where the teeth appear short. In other instances, gums have or appear to have receded, giving a long-tooth look. Other gums are uneven or disproportionate. Fortunately, no matter how the gums appear, almost all of them can be corrected or greatly 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 together 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 down a portion of the excessive gum, usually by using 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 occuring 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 is concerned. 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 usually quick. The advantages to this surgery extend beyond the cosmetic improvement of your smile and include the 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.
Deciding on
cosmetic gum surgery should be done with much consideration. While this is a relatively routine form of cosmetic dentistry, you will want to choose a practitioner who has documented experience and proven results. Ask your prospective cosmetic dentistry practice for references and any before and after pictures they may have from previous patients. Be careful not to simply choose to have any particular practitioner perform your cosmetic gum surgery based simply on the cost alone. While the cheapest quote won't necessarily result in the worst results, the most expensive quote will not necessarily give you the best results. It is your mouth and your smile. You have the right and responsibility to make an informed decision, so you can be proactive and assuring yourself that your cosmetic gum surgery will be a great success!
