For people of certain ethnic groups, usually those with ancestry from Africa or the Middle East, the pigmentation of gums can be brown or black instead of pink. The most common cause of this condition is excess melanin buildup in the gums, mainly due to genetics. Extra pigment does not indicate any disease or dysfunction, but many patients seek depigmentation treatment because of an aesthetic preference for pink gums or to enhance the visibility of their teeth.
Other causes for brown or black gums include smoking, side effects from certain medications, and, in some people, the result of amalgam dental fillings, causing discoloration of the gum tissue. Amalgam fillings have been used to treat cavities for more than 150 years. Fillings generally consist of a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, copper, and zinc. The fillings are durable, cost-effective, and especially suitable for back teeth. While amalgam fillings do contain mercury, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Dental Association (ADA) consider amalgam fillings safe for patients over six years of age.)
What is the Treatment Process?
Your dentist will use a laser instrument for the gum bleaching or gum depigmentation process. The laser vaporizes a thin top layer of the gum tissue, removing the cells that produce melanin. As new tissue is created as you heal from the surgery, your gums tend to be pink rather than brown or black.
Laser gum depigmentation offers a more comfortable patient experience. Traditional surgical stripping can be painful and require significant recovery time.
Gum depigmentation treatment can last up to 20 years, or even for a lifetime. Your treatment may require a local anesthetic injection. Generally, recovery time is short, and discomfort is minimal. Depending on the color and depth of your darker-colored gums, you may need several treatments to achieve your desired degree of lightening.
Typically, surgery requires 30 to 45 minutes. Your dentist will use local anesthesia to make the procedure as comfortable as possible.
You should not smoke for at least seven days after the procedure, as smoking is one of the primary causes of discoloration of gums.
Why Should I Consider Gum Depigmentation?
If you choose laser treatment for gum depigmentation, you should expect minor discomfort for a short time, but few if any complications after surgery. Most people are able to speak and eat normally immediately after the treatment is completed.
As a cosmetic treatment, gum depigmentation is not recommended for patients with oral disease or if you have dark gums caused by periodontal disease that is not a surface pigment problem. If you are taking blood thinners, your medication can cause excessive bleeding during treatment. If you have thin gum tissue or prominent tooth roots, you may experience ongoing sensitivity if tooth roots are accidentally exposed by the removal of gum tissue.
What Is Involved in the Healing Process?
Generally, laser gum depigmentation treatment causes minimal discomfort and no complications following the procedure. If you have very sensitive gums, you may experience some discomfort for a brief time. Most patients are able to speak and eat normally immediately following the procedure, and most heal within about two weeks.
Related Article: Typical Costs of Gum Depigmentation