No two people have similar gum lines. Some have gum lines that are too high or too low, and others may have uneven gums. If you are self-conscious about your gum line, ways to change it are readily available from cosmetic dentistry near me. Cosmetic gum surgery, also called gingival sculpting, is an option you can select to reshape your gum line.
Sometimes dentists suggest the procedure, especially if you have problems with your gums affecting your oral health. What precisely does cosmetic gum surgery involve? This article sheds light on cosmetic gum surgery when it is necessary and the recovery procedure from this process. Please continue reading to learn more about how you can change your gum line.
What Is Cosmetic Gum Surgery?
Cosmetic gum surgeries are procedures performed by dental specialists to reshape or re-sculpt your gum line. The process involves cutting away or removing additional gum tissue around your teeth. If you need receding gum repair, you can seek help from a cosmetic dentist who can restore gum tissue.
Cosmetic gum surgery is an elective procedure and medically unnecessary. However, it helps to enhance the appearance of your teeth, gums, and smile.
When Does Cosmetic Gum Surgery Become Medically Necessary?
Cosmetic gum surgery is performed for decorative purposes in most cases. However, the procedure becomes a medical necessity in many cases.
If you are affected by periodontal disease, gingival sculpting is a treatment option that dentists use when non-surgical options fail to provide gum dental care. When non-surgical treatments with antibiotics or dental cleanings don’t work, your dentist recommends treatments like pocket reduction surgery on the gums and surrounding bone to preserve your tooth. In some cases, you may need regeneration surgery to regrow damaged bone. Gingival sculpting might be an option the dentist may suggest if it is a medical necessity. You may receive some reimbursement from your dental insurers if you can show that the causes of gum recession necessitated the procedure.
What Does Cosmetic Surgery Involve?
A cosmetic dentist or a periodontist generally performs cosmetic gum surgery. The procedure is performed in-office and accomplished in one visit.
You will likely remain awake during the procedure, although you receive local anesthesia before the procedure to numb the gum area. The dentist uses soft tissue lasers or scalpels to remove additional gum tissue to re-sculpt the gum line and expose more of the tooth. Sutures are required to hold the gum tissue in place.
If your gums have receded, the procedure involves adding gum tissue which the doctor removes from another part of your mouth. Surgery helps to secure the tissue around your teeth to lengthen and restructure your gum line.
The duration of the procedure varies according to the extent of the process and the amount of re-sculpting needed. However, you can expect to spend about a couple of hours in the dentist’s chair.
Is Cosmetic Gum Surgery Painful?
You are likely not to experience any pain as you receive local anesthesia before starting the procedure. Local anesthesia numbs your gums and ensures you won’t feel any pain while the doctor works in your mouth. However, you can expect some tenderness and numbness after the procedure. The kind of discomfort you experience depends on how much cosmetic gum surgery was required to reshape or remove your gums.
After the procedure, the dentist prescribes when pain relievers or over-the-counter medications asking you to refrain from using aspirin because aspirin is a blood thinner and can cause bleeding. You are free to reduce pain and swelling using ice packs on your cheeks for a couple of days after the process. Remember not to use the ice packs for extended periods but limit them to 10 to 15-minute intervals.
What Is the Downtime for Cosmetic Gum Surgery?
Cosmetic gum surgery involves minimal downtime, but the entire healing might require days or weeks, depending on the extent of the procedure. You may have to limit some activities for a couple of days based on how you feel and any tenderness you experience.
Your doctor provides post-surgery dietary instructions and informs you of the foods to avoid during the recovery process. Antibiotic mouth rinses are recommended to reduce the risk of infections. You must follow up with the dentist a few days or a week after the procedure to assess how you are healing.
Cosmetic gum surgery or gingival sculpting is a process for reshaping the gum line. You can have it for improving the appearance of your teeth, gums, and smile. The procedure is considered cosmetic when you undergo it for these purposes.
