Lift Your Spirits with a Gum Lift

A gummy smile can be a drag on your self-esteem, but there is a gum treatment that can improve your smile’s aesthetics in such circumstances: the gum lift. This intervention removes excess gum tissue in order to expose more of your tooth material and make your teeth appear to be more proportionate in relationship to your gums.

A periodontist may also need to perform a gum lift, which may also be called a gingivectomy, on a broken tooth that has too little material below the gum line to be fitted with a restoration. In this case, the gum lift is not aesthetic, but rather to preserve a biological tooth’s function within the smile.

A periodontist may perform a gum lift over a single tooth, a small number of teeth or along the entire gumline, depending on your smile goals. The gum lift may be done as a stand-alone procedure or in combination with other treatments, such as veneer placement or teeth whitening.

A gum lift is completed in a single appointment, with the periodontist excising the excess tissue and re-attaching the remaining tissue. The procedure is relatively painless, and any discomfort can typically be managed with over-the-counter painkillers. Most patients will be able to eat and drink within 24 hours and heal completely from the procedure within a week or two.

Your provider will educate you on any risks associated with the gum lift so that you can make a fully informed treatment decision. You will also receive thorough instructions on how to care for the site of the gum lift following the procedure. It is important for you to closely follow these directions in order to reduce your risk of post-operative complications. If you notice any concerning signs after the procedure, like a fever or other signs of infection or excessive bleeding, call our office to get guidance on follow-up treatment that may be needed.

A gum lift can boost your spirits and your self-confidence. If you are dissatisfied with your gummy smile, contact our office to learn more about your treatment options to correct it.

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