Why Do I Need a Gingivectomy?
Gingivectomy, also called crown lengthening, is a form of minor oral surgery that removes excessive gums in a minimally invasive manner. The treatment controls tissue overgrowth and improves the appearance of your teeth by removing excessive gum tissue, or gingiva.
Gingivectomies are usually performed on adults. A gingivectomy is the best treatment option available to make your smile look natural and healthy.
If you have taken medication like a form of blood pressure pills or undergone hormonal changes, like a pregnancy gingivitis, your gums can become bigger and look unnatural.
You can have a gingivectomy if you have what is called a gummy smile, where your teeth appear to be shorter because of excessive gum tissue.
Choosing a gingivectomy is far less intrusive and a more cost-effective solution than a more expensive aesthetic procedure. If your gingivectomy is performed with a laser, you will see spectacular results in the same day.
Are You a Candidate for Gingivectomy?
Your dentist could recommend a gingivectomy if you are experiencing a gum recession because of:
- Gum injury infections caused by bacteria.
- Gingivitis.
- Natural aging.
- A gum injury.
Your dentist might suggest a gingivectomy if you have gum disease to prevent further damage. It will also make it easier for you and your dentist to clean your teeth.
Gum disease often results in sagging pockets around the base of the teeth. These droopy gaps will lead to the accumulation of:
- Bacteria.
- Calculus.
- Tartar.
- Plaque.
Further damage will be the result of these buildups. If your dentist discovers an infection or gum disease during an exam or teeth cleaning and wants to stop and reverse the progression, they might propose this procedure.
A gingivectomy takes between 30 minutes to one hour, depending on the amount of tissue being removed.
Why Would You Need a Gingivectomy?
There are several reasons you may consider a gingivectomy. The procedure is the reshaping of inflamed or excessive gums and can also improve a variety of issues ranging from gum disease to simple cosmetic improvements.
Gum disease often requires a gingivectomy. Gingivitis will result in pockets between your gums and the teeth. Bacteria thrives in these pockets, which immediately accelerates the irritation of your gums.
Gum reshaping is sometimes necessary as part of a restoration process. When the gums obstruct access to the teeth that require restoration, your dentist will remove some of the gums to provide access to the teeth in concern.
The Gingivectomy Procedure
Minor procedures involving just one tooth or a few teeth will usually just require one appointment. More serious gum contouring or excessive removal will need several visits, especially if your dentist would like to let one area heal before proceeding to the next.
The treatment usually follows this progression:
- The dentist will first administer a local anesthetic to numb the immediate area.
- Your dentist will conduct a soft tissue incision with a laser or a scalpel to remove the excessive gum tissue.
- During the procedure, your dentist will use a suction tool to remove any extra saliva in your mouth.
- Your dentist could use a laser to vaporize the excess tissue and to sculpt your gumline once the tissue has been removed.
- To help the healing, your dentist will most likely apply a soft dough-like substance and bandages to the area to protect the gums.