What is gum surgery?
Your gum tissue is like a frame that provides form and
shape to the top of your tooth. A less than attractive smile results when the integrity of
the gum is compromised or the actual gum between your teeth becomes weak. Usually due to
poor hygiene (gum disease), you actually begin to lose gum tissue. Dentistry
provides many cosmetic solutions such as composite resin bonding, crowns, and veneers to
create a great smile. These solutions are usually part of an overall strategy which may
involve cosmetic gum surgery. Used to correct a 'gummy smile' (a significant portion of
your gum is exposed when you smile), cosmetic gum surgery is the procedure of lengthening
your teeth from the neck of the tooth upwards. Your teeth then appear to be longer and
much less gum is seen when you smile.
The "Long in the Tooth" Smile - gum
surgery, or periodontal plastic surgery, can correct almost any deformity or gingival
problems preventing you from a beautiful smile. As we age, our gums may shrink and recede
which makes our teeth look longer. While this is often age-related, it can also occur due
to a bad bite. A cosmetic dentist or a periodontist can correct this to such an extent,
that you'll have a very youthful appearing smile.
The "Gummy Smile" - This is a problem where
your teeth appear to be too short. Gum sculpting is often the solution. To solve this, a
dentist uses a laser to remove the excess tissue of your "gummy" smile, which
then exposes more of your tooth.
Next: Are you a candidate
for gum surgery?
- Introduction to cosmetic gum surgery
- Gum surgery - an overview
- Who is a candidate for gum surgery?
- Gum surgery - Procedure description
- Types of cosmetic gum surgery procedures
- Procedure to correct a "gummy
smile"
- Procedure to correct a "long tooth smile"
- Cost of cosmetic gum surgery
- Advantages and disadvantages of cosmetic gum surgery
- Gum surgery - Before and after photos
- Personal stories from people who have had cosmetic gum surgery
- Discuss gum surgery on the dentistry message board
  
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