What You Need to Do About a Gummy Smile

Have you ever felt that your gums rest too high or too low on your teeth? If you are not satisfied with your smile as it shows off too much of the gums, you may need a gum contouring surgery. It is also known as gum reshaping or tissue sculpting surgery. It is basically a cosmetic dental procedure that evens out the gum line and gives you a smile that you can be proud of.

Problems with gums can occur because of several reasons such as genetics or use of certain prescription drugs. Gums that cover a large portion of your teeth can make your teeth look small and in some cases, the gums can make your teeth look bigger than they actually are which is just the opposite case. Gums that are too high are often caused by gum recession. It is a condition where gum tissue is pulled off and exposes the root of the tooth. It will not only make your teeth look longer than usual but may also cause tooth decay and tooth loss. It can possibly be an early sign of a periodontal disease, depending on the situation.

In most of the cases, gum contouring need not be a medical treatment which becomes mandatory. Most people opt for the treatment because they are not happy with their smiles. On the other hand, some people need to go for gum contouring because of much required periodontal procedures. It could be crown lengthening, pocket reduction and, some other regenerative procedures.

Many dentists also perform gum contouring, but it is better to choose one who has specialization in the field and is an expert in his or her line of work. An expert periodontist or gum specialist is the best choice in this case. One should ask his or her dentist about the various intricacies and medical aspects involved in gum contouring procedure.

The cost of the gum contouring depends on the procedure length and the complexity of the treatment. However, dental insurance generally does not cover the gum contouring treatment charges as it is a cosmetic procedure but one can talk to the dentist depending upon one’s specific needs. The usage of the equipment also affects the quality of the treatment. Dentists often use lasers and radio-surgery to complete the procedures.

It may take a few days or weeks to completely recover from the surgery, depending on the complexity of the treatment. One should follow specific guidelines as directed by the dentist in Sterling VA in order to make the most of the treatment in their Sterling dental clinic. One can then enjoy having a beautiful smile and not worry about the smile being too gummy.

How to Correct a Receded Gum Line

A receded gum line is a dental condition which causes the gum to pull-off from the tooth which may later cause periodontal diseases. It is a common dental problem that occurs mostly in adults and many people ignore this condition until it is worsened. It causes too much exposure of the tooth and the tooth root. In the majority of such cases, people do not even recognize that their gums are receded. With time, this condition will not only make your teeth look ugly but may also cause tooth sensitivity towards hot and cold food items.

Gum grafting is a procedure where the dentists in Sterling takes preventive measures to protect your teeth from gum recession. It helps you in maintaining a healthy smile at its best.

If not diagnosed and treated on time, it can also cause tooth loss, and a gum grafting surgery becomes necessary to prevent that situation from arising. Gum tissue grafting is performed in three different ways depending on the specific situation.

Connective-Tissue Grafts: It is one of the most common methods used to treat teeth root exposure. In this procedure, a mouth tissue (skin from the palate) is cut down and stitched to the gum tissue surrounding the exposed root. When the tissue is removed from the palatal flap, the flap is stitched back.

Free Gingival Grafts: This method is similar to the Connective-Tissue Grafting method but in this case, a small amount of tissue is removed from the roof of the mouth and is attached to the problematic area. People having thin gums are treated by this method that also helps in gum enlargement.

Pedicle Grafts: In this method, the tissue is not extracted from the palate but from the gum around the problematic area. The flap that is also known as pedicle is only partially cut away so that one edge of the tissue remains attached. The gum is then pulled down and stitched to the tissue. It covers the exposed root and the tooth at the same time.

Dentists in Northern Virginia often give sedatives to relax their patients after the treatment. But once the treatment is completed, patients must look after their gums and follow the directives given by the dentists. Patients are often prescribed not to floss or brush near the treated area until it is completely healed.