How Painful is a Gingivectomy
Gingivoplasty, gingivectomy, or gingival plastic surgery are procedures that aim to remove excess gum over tooth enamel. After removing excess gum, teeth become longer and more beautiful.
If you're thinking about having this surgery, it's important to take care to get a good diagnosis. This means carrying out the correct examination of the teeth and X-rays, as a patient who shows a lot of gum in the smile does not always have excess on the teeth. There are other factors such as short lips or excess bone that could be causing this effect. In that case, the correct procedure is another.
Surgery Duration
The surgery lasts an average of 1h and 30m, is performed under local anesthesia and has a great postoperative period, without discomfort, as long as the guidelines are followed. The result can be seen immediately and the patients' reaction when they see their new smile is EXCITING!
What is the difference between Gingivoplasty and Gingivectomy?
Gingivoplasty and gingivectomy are reconstructive surgical interventions that correct the gums. Both surgeries aim to correct the outline or even the proportion of the gums. However, even though gingivoplasty and gingivectomy are similar, there is a difference in surgery. Gingivoplasty is done to better model the gingival tissue that is around the tooth, improving aesthetics. In this procedure, the gum needs to be healthy, as the goal is only aesthetic.
Gingivectomy is a surgery related to gingival hypertrophy - uneven and excessive growth of the gum. This surgery is also performed when there are inflammations caused by gingivitis. While in gingivoplasty surgery is performed only on the gum tissue, gingivectomy cuts the periodontal bones and ligaments as well.
Recovery from gingivectomy and pain
The postoperative period of gingivectomy is not overly painful. You might have a bit of swelling or pain immediately after surgery and for about a week after, but these will subside quickly. Even so, you need to be careful with some hot drinks and food. But that depends a lot on the extent of the surgery.
Some specific points of attention during this period are:
* Take care that the surgical cement does not fall out (if used).
* If it is a suture, be careful not to break the stitches.
* In case of complications in the postoperative period, be aware that the recovery time will vary according to the extent of the surgery.
* When the procedure is carried out with suture threads, know that 4 days are recommended so that you can return to your normal activities.
* There are other more specific care for your surgery. For this, it is necessary to follow the recommendations that your dental clinic indicates.
That way, the whole procedure will go as expected and you will meet your expectations.
Does gingivectomy hurt?
Before surgery, it is common for the dentist to perform antisepsis in the region, ensuring that there are no bacteria or other dirt in your mouth. Soon after, anesthesia is applied to make sure that the surgery is not uncomfortable, avoiding pain during the procedure. If you start to feel uncomfortable, let your periodontist know so he can reapply anesthesia. While you will not feel the surgery itself, due to anesthesia, you will have some pain following the procedure after anesthesia wears off. This pain can usually be managed with over the counter medicines.
Basic care in the postoperative period of gingivectomy
As we mentioned above, it is important to follow your dentist's recommendation for a good recovery. But there are some common precautions in every post-operative gingivectomy, which are:
* Avoid: sun exposure, smoking, drinks with alcohol and physical exertion in the first 7 days.
* Have: a light diet, avoiding pasty, solid or too hot foods.
* Use: the medications recommended by your dentist in the postoperative period.
* Do: good oral hygiene, also indicated by your dentist.
* Because this surgery usually does not cause pain or swelling, it is not necessary to stay in the hospital, so, the next day you can do some things that are part of your routine, as long as you take proper care.