Gingivoplasty is an outpatient cosmetic procedure that consists in removing excess gum so that it does not cover the crowns of the teeth.
Gingivoplasty allows you to reshape the shape and size of the gums to make them look more symmetrical and provide a more harmonious appearance to the patient’s smile.
When is a gingivoplasty necessary?
Gingivoplasty has the sole purpose of improving the appearance of the gum, the most frequent reason a patient decides to have a gingivoplasty is when he presents a gummy smile, and when smiling the amount of gum that is shown is exaggerated.
This is due to gingival hypertrophy, a condition in which the gums overgrowth, causing them to cover part of the crown of the teeth, producing the visual effect of having small, square teeth.
Gingivoplasty can also be used in combination with other procedures, for example, it can be done after a gingivectomy to contour the gum and make it look aesthetic.
Gingivoplasty contraindications
Despite being a relatively simple outpatient procedure, there are some situations in which gingivoplasty is not recommended:
- When the patient suffers from intense dental sensitivity.
- When the patient is immunosuppressed.
- In patients with coagulation disorders or who are taking anticoagulants.
- In diabetic patients.
How is a gingivoplasty performed?
Gingivoplasty is a minimally invasive outpatient surgery that is performed in approximately 1 hour, below we explain the step by step of a gingivoplasty:
- Before a gingivoplasty, it is necessary to perform a deep dental cleaning to remove the tartar accumulated in the gum line, this facilitates access to the area and reduces the chances of infection.
- After a dental cleaning, the edges of the gums are polished and local anesthesia is applied to the areas to be treated.
- Once the anesthesia takes effect, we proceed to cut the excess gum that covers the crown of the teeth, this can be done with a manual scalpel, electrocautery, or a laser.
- When the desired shape has been given to the gum, some stitches are placed if necessary and the area is cleaned with saline solution.
- Finally, the dentist should prescribe anti-inflammatory pain relievers and antibiotic-medicated mouthwashes.
Care after gingivoplasty
As in any dental procedure, after gingivoplasty, you will receive a series of instructions that you must follow to the letter to optimize the healing process, reduce the risk of complications, and avoid discomfort.
Among the care that you should follow after a gingivoplasty, we have:
- Brush your teeth with extra soft bristle brushes.
- Use medicated mouth rinses after each meal to prevent bacterial proliferation, usually, the preferred mouth rinse is chlorhexidine, but your dentist will prescribe the appropriate rinse for you.
- Avoid excessively hot or cold foods, spicy or acidic foods, and hard or crunchy foods.
- Do not perform physical activity.
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages or smoke.
- Take prescribed medications when indicated.
- Apply cold compresses externally to relieve possible discomfort.
Benefits of gingivoplasty
The main benefit of gingivoplasty is better dental aesthetics by improving the appearance of the gums, making them look healthy, symmetrical, and thin, which in turn improves the appearance of the teeth, making them look longer, and providing a more harmonious and proportionate smile.
Risks of Gingivoplasty
Despite being a simple procedure with a high success rate, as with any surgical procedure, there are some possible complications that you must take into account:
- Infection.
- Bad healing.
- Hemorrhage.
- Exposure of the roots of the teeth.
- Tooth sensitivity.
These risks can be minimized with proper treatment planning and patient cooperation when following medical instructions.
Differences between gingivoplasty and gingivectomy
Gingivoplasty has purely aesthetic purposes, while gingivectomy is a procedure for therapeutic purposes; a periodontist must perform the latter and its purpose is to remove the gum affected by periodontal disease.
It is quite common for these procedures to be carried out together since once a gingivectomy is done to remove the diseased gum, a gingivoplasty can be done to restore aesthetics to the gingival mucosa.
Frequently asked questions about gingivoplasty
How long does it take a gingivoplasty to heal?
Postoperative recovery takes approximately 10 days, gum healing takes approximately one month, and full recovery takes between 5 and 7 months.
Who performs gingivoplasty?
A dentist specializing in cosmetic dentistry or periodontics.
How painful is gingivoplasty?
The procedure is performed under the effects of local anesthesia, so the patient does not feel any pain, although they may feel some discomfort once the effect of anesthesia ends, for this, the dentist must prescribe painkillers.
Can gingivoplasty be performed with brackets?
No, it is advisable to do the gingivoplasty once the orthodontic treatment has finished, since changing the position of the teeth will also change the position of the gums.
Can a gingivoplasty be performed on a tooth?
Yes, if only one tooth is affected by gum overgrowth, gingivoplasty will simply be done on that specific tooth.
Is it better to perform gingivoplasty with a scalpel, electrocautery, or laser?
All the techniques offer the same aesthetic result, however, the use of electrocautery and laser offers some advantages such as facilitating gum cuts, reducing bleeding, and reducing the chances of infection.