Gums Frame the Teeth

Making Gums Healthy

Gum Contours

A common problem is unsymmetrical gum tissue. By that I mean the gingival margins are not at an esthetic position (notice the differences in the height of the gum line in the two pictures). The gum tissue could be lower on one front tooth and not the other, thereby; creating the appearance that one tooth is longer than the other.

Another scenario (as in the adjacent photo) would be that the gingival margins of all the teeth are at the same height or the teeth appear to be too short. Then there is the gummy smile. When an individual smiles, they show too much gum tissue.

How are these problems corrected?

Gum Lift and Contouring

Sometimes all that may be required is to surgically contour the gum tissue to a more esthetically balanced appearance. This is called a simple cosmetic gum lift. I perform this procedure utilizing a laser and only a topical anesthetic (no needles). The tissue heals very quickly with very little discomfort.

Of course, there are times when contouring the tissue alone is not enough. In those circumstances the bone at the front of the root may have to be reduced. This is done because the gingival margins need to be about 3 millimeters from the edge of the bone. If you don't reduce the bone the tissue will grow back. This procedure, while more invasive than a simple gum lift, is still relatively comfortable when done properly.

The cosmetic gum lift is a remarkably simple cosmetic procedure that can make a tremendous difference to one's smile. Consult your dentist if you think that you are a candidate for this procedure.