Do you have stains on your gums? You can lighten dark gums with gum peeling performed by specialized professionals and improve oral and facial aesthetics. Despite the complicated name, melanoplasty (gum whitening) is a technique widely used in dentistry for gingival whitening, that is, to remove dark pigments from the gums and, consequently, improve gingival aesthetics.
Why are gums dark?
Changes in gingival color (stains) can occur due to melanin pigmentation and racial pigmentation. Black, brown, and yellow people may have a darker color. People who smoke may also experience stains on their gums. Pigmented lesions of the oral cavity are not common, and their origin may be endogenous (internal factors) or exogenous (external factors).
Melanin appears as brown or black spots, much darker than the normal pink color. To remove stains and color flaws, the procedure reconstitutes and remodels the contours of the gums above and between the teeth to depigment the oral mucosa.
Gum bleaching (melanoplasty)
Gum bleaching is efficient in removing dark spots and restoring a pinker, more natural color. In this case, the patient also used an Invisalign aligner to reposition her teeth.
What is melanoplasty, the gum whitening treatment, like?
Teeth whitening uses bleaching chemicals; however, gum whitening involves scraping or removing the pigmented layer. Using a suitable technique, the layer containing the stains on the gums is scraped off, as if it were a gingival peeling. In all procedures, the patient receives anesthesia.
The surgical procedure
Gum whitening is carried out under local anesthesia and takes approximately one hour in total. This technique consists of removing melanin (a brown protein that pigments the skin) through dermabrasion, that is, a superficial peeling of the gums capable of removing these pigments. After this procedure, new tissue will be formed, pink in color and free of stains. This new layer of gum can be seen in approximately 72 hours, and, in just 7 days, a significant aesthetic result is achieved. Generally, after about two weeks, there is no longer any sensitivity, and the tissue is completely restored.
Post-operative
In gum peeling, the post-operative period is simple, but, as with any surgical procedure, certain guidelines must be correctly followed to achieve a complete recovery and achieve the expected results. In some cases, there may also be post-operative discomfort, but this is uncommon. Another option that may suit each person's needs is gingival peeling, which uses diamond tips (small motors) to lightly peel the gingival tissue. In this technique, there is no need for anesthesia or cement, but it is not definitive, and the melanin may return.
In addition to using the indicated medication (generally anti-inflammatories and analgesics), ultra-soft toothbrushes should be used, with mouthwash containing chlorhexidine. You should not smoke for 15 days, in addition to not drinking alcoholic beverages or citrus, hot and harder foods. As there is an exposed “wound” in the region, you should not come into contact with other people’s secretions or saliva to avoid contagion.
Are its effects permanent?
Like tooth whitening, gum whitening may also require touch-ups. There is no way to predict recurrence, but in general, after a period of 2 to 3 years, new melanin formation occurs, leading to the need to repeat the procedure.
Speak with your dentist to learn more about gum lightening.