Gum Appearance and Gingivectomy
If you are concerned about the aesthetics of your smile because you have large gums or small-appearing teeth, please don’t worry; there are many treatment options for you to discuss with your dentist. One of the most common is a gingivectomy. This is a surgical procedure that shapes and enhances the appearance of your gums for balance your smile.
Gingival aesthetics – Importance for the Smile
The gummy smile is characterized by the exaggerated size or exposure of the gums in relation to the size of the teeth. It does not represent a health risk, however it can compromise the aesthetics of the smile , in such a way that it leaves some people withdrawn when smiling and talking, and in some cases it is likely to disturb even their social relationships.
There are some causes of gummy smile, for example:
* Heredity
* short lip
* Gum inflammations
* Problems in the tooth eruption process
* dense lip brake
* poor facial musculature
* Excessive gum tissue over the dental crown
* elongated face
The surgical procedure is indicated in the following cases:
* when the gum is too big, becoming too exposed when the person smiles (gummy smile);
* when the gum retracts, leaving the tooth roots exposed;
* when the gingiva is very thin and has both an aesthetically unpleasant contour and thickness;
* In the case of retracted gums, in addition to the aesthetic damage, there is still an increase in sensitivity in the teeth.
Gummy Smile Treatments – Gingival Aesthetics
The choice of gummy smile treatment depends on the degree and cause of the problem. In milder cases, the condition can be easily solved with the gingivectomy technique, which consists of surgically removing excess gum tissue over the teeth. The surgery is performed under local anesthesia and the recovery is relatively smooth. Healing normally occurs between 7 and 14 days and patient cooperation during this period is very important.
Another resource is the recontouring of the teeth with resin in order to make them more proportional in relation to the size of the gingiva. In some cases, botulinum toxin (Botox) may be indicated to decrease muscle contraction and reduce gum exposure when the patient smiles. However, the application of the toxin needs to be repeated periodically for the effect to be maintained. Only in cases where the gummy smile is caused by bone problems (considered more complex), not only can gingivectomy be indicated, but also orthognathic surgery.
Gingivoplasty
Also called gum plastic surgery, gingivoplasty is used to reshape the gum tissue around the teeth to improve their appearance. During the procedure, the dentist removes excess gum with a scalpel, correcting other imperfections. In this case, the gingival tissues must be healthy, as the surgery only aims to improve the appearance of the gingiva.
The procedure for this surgery is similar to gingivoplasty, however, its purpose is different. Gingivectomy is recommended for cases in which there is growth in the gum because of the use of certain medications or inflammation caused by gingivitis. In addition, in this type of surgery, gums, bone and periodontal ligaments are cut. In gingivoplasty, the surgery is performed exclusively on the gingival tissue.