G.W. Schamback runs Perfect Smile Dental in Stuart, Florida. Here, he explains two procedures that are used to correct abnormalities in the gums.
Cosmetic dentistry can make a huge difference in how you feel about yourself. A great smile not only enhances appearance, but is great for your self-esteem.
One cosmetic dentistry procedure which I perform in my practice is a gum lift. A gum lift corrects a problem known as excessive or uneven gums. In practice, this is evident when someone smiles and you can see all his gums. It is a cosmetic procedure and there is no medical reason for it –- but having a more beautiful smile can make all the difference in your life.
The easiest way to perform the procedure — if there’s not a lot of excessive tissue — would be to re-contour the gum tissue using the precise Biolase Diode laser, a high-tech laser which lifts the gums above the teeth. The procedure takes about half an hour, and few people complain of pain afterward. I recommend a soft diet (no excessively harsh foods like pretzels or sharp potato chips) for a week after the procedure.
If there is excessive gum tissue, we may have to change the position of the gum surgically. First, we numb the patient, giving him a medication to take at home before the in-office procedure even begins. This procedure takes about an hour. But, nine times out of 10 I can do the procedure with the Diode laser, and don’t need to go in surgically.
I’ve been practicing dentistry for 38 years, and it wasn’t that long ago that tools such as the laser weren’t available. This, as well as the quality of dental materials available to us, is what has changed the most about dentistry in my time of practicing it.
Ridge augmentation is a procedure that can shore up dents and other abnormalities in your gum line. People who lose a tooth, for example, may eventually develop a small indentation where the original tooth was located, which sometimes creates an uneven or unsightly gum line. Even if the tooth is replaced, the preceding shrinkage of the gum may make the replacement tooth look longer than the others.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
