Got a Gummy Smile? Just One of the Many Reasons to Consider Gingivectomy

If you’re hiding your smile because of excess gum tissue, you may be a candidate for a gingivectomy and a customized smile makeover. As a skilled orthodontist, Karen E. Guinn, DDS, uses the latest laser technology to address a gummy smile at The Smile Agency.

Dr. Guinn also offers comprehensive orthodontic treatments, including braces and the Invisalign® system to straighten your teeth and further enhance the natural appearance of your smile.

A gummy smile results when you have excess gum tissue, especially on your upper teeth. Generally, gummy smiles aren’t harmful, although you may want to treat it for cosmetic reasons.

Some of the most common reasons your smile appears gummy are due to:

1. Small teeth
2. Overgrown gums
3. Abnormal tooth eruption
4. Overactive muscles in the upper lip

You can also have a gummy smile because your jaw didn’t develop properly. In addition to having excess gum tissue, you may also notice your bite isn’t perfect and experience occasional or persistent jaw pain.

Dr. Guinn specializes in evaluating the underlying cause of your gummy smile using X-ray images of your overall dental structures, including your teeth and jaws. She strategizes a treatment plan that not only improves your smile, but it also addresses issues that can impact your long-term dental health.

Since every person has different needs when it comes to improving a gummy smile, Dr. Guinn customizes your care plan with your unique needs in mind. She may recommend prescription Botox® injections to temporarily relax overactive muscles in your lip that cause a gummy smile.

To address excess gum tissue directly, Dr. Guinn offers gingivectomy procedures to remove the unnecessary tissue. This in-office procedure requires only a local anesthetic and Dr. Guinn uses a laser tool to cut away the gum tissue and resculpt the lines of your gums, so they look natural.

Gingivectomy is also effective in the treatment of gum disease. The laser procedure can treat gingivitis and bacterial infections that result from the build-up of plaque and tartar (hardened plaque).

Traditional gingivectomy procedures involved cutting away the excess gum tissue with a scalpel. However, innovative laser technology allows Dr. Guinn to remove delicate gum tissue with a higher level of precision.

The use of laser energy on your gums also prompts your body to heal faster and may cause less discomfort than traditional incisions with a scalpel.

You can expect to go home right after your gingivectomy. However, you may need to rely on a soft food diet and limit some strenuous activities for a few days while you heal. Since you need less recovery time after a laser gingivectomy, you can likely resume your usual activities within a week.

If you’re unhappy with your appearance because of a gummy smile, find out if you’re a candidate for a gingivectomy by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Guinn. You can book an appointment online or by calling The Smile Agency office nearest you today.