Perfect white and healthy teeth have always been one of the most important factors for a beautiful smile. However, few can boast a Hollywood smile without at least one correction. The good news is that today most dental procedures are painless and accessible to everyone.
One such procedure is gingivectomy – a surgical procedure that has wide application in both aesthetic correction and gum disease treatment. Whether you have a problem with periodontitis or excessive visible gum tissue when smiling bothers you, gingivectomy may be the solution you are looking for.
In this text we explain what gingivectomy is, how it differs from gingivoplasty, what the procedure itself looks like and what you can expect during recovery.
What is gingivectomy
Gingivectomy is the surgical removal of a portion of the gingiva, or gums. This technique is used in two basic cases – as a therapeutic procedure for periodontal disease (periodontitis) and as an aesthetic procedure to correct smile appearance.
In periodontitis, bacterial infections lead to the formation of periodontal pockets between teeth and gums. Bacteria and food debris accumulate in these pockets, worsening the condition and potentially leading to gum and jawbone deterioration, even tooth loss. Gingivectomy involves removing that infected portion of gum, thereby eliminating the source of infection.
On the other hand, gingivectomy is increasingly being used as an aesthetic procedure as well. Some patients have gums that cover a large portion of the tooth surface, making teeth appear shorter than they actually are. By removing a portion of the gums, a more natural proportion is established between the teeth and gum tissue.
Gingivoplasty – aesthetic gum shaping
Gingivoplasty is the process of shaping the gums around teeth to achieve perfect balance between the tooth surface and gum tissue. While gingivectomy involves removing a portion of the gum, gingivoplasty focuses on reshaping and remodeling both bone and gum tissue to make the smile look natural and harmonious.
This procedure is especially popular with patients who want to correct uneven gums – for example, when gums on one tooth sit lower than on adjacent teeth. Gingivoplasty evens the gum line on all teeth and gives the smile a uniform, harmonious appearance.
The procedure itself is completely painless, takes relatively little time, and patients notice the difference immediately after treatment. At the end of gingivoplasty, stitches are placed for 7 days. Already the day after the procedure, patients can return to their daily activities.
And what is most important to emphasize – after gingivoplasty the gums will not grow back over the teeth. The result is permanent.
Gummy smile – laser correction
Gummy smile is a term that describes a smile where the gums are very visible when smiling, while the teeth appear short and small. This phenomenon can occur for several reasons – genetic predisposition, the way teeth developed, or simply a larger amount of gum tissue than is typical.
People with gummy smiles often feel insecure when they smile, because their gum tissue is too prominent. However, gummy smile correction is a simple and quick procedure today.
The solution is precisely gingivoplasty or gingivectomy – removing some bone and excess gum from the teeth or just the gum and evening out the gum line on all teeth. Gingivectomy is most often performed with a dental laser, which means there is no classical cutting and suturing. The patient sees the difference immediately after the procedure – teeth look longer, the smile is more harmonious, and the gums are proportional.
Laser correction of gummy smile at DentalVortex takes a short time, is performed under local anesthesia and is completely painless. Recovery is fast and the result is permanent.
Periodontitis – laser treatment
Periodontitis is a relatively common periodontal disease. Inadequate oral hygiene, smoking, certain systemic diseases and other factors can lead to the development of this disease. One of the first symptoms is gum inflammation and gum bleeding when brushing teeth. If the infection is not treated in time, gum and jawbone deterioration occurs, which can result in tooth loss.
Today diode lasers are increasingly used in treating periodontitis. Laser rays show anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects – they calm inflamed gums and simultaneously destroy the bacteria that cause the infection.
What patients particularly appreciate about laser treatment is that the diode laser method does not require classical gum cutting and wound suturing. Recovery is painless and fast – just a few days after the procedure, the patient will not feel any consequences of the treatment.
However, in some cases the use of a laser is not possible, so a classical surgical procedure is applied. This method is also performed under local anesthesia and is completely painless.
What does gingivectomy look like – procedure course
Gingivectomy is a procedure performed on an outpatient basis, in a dental office, under local anesthesia. Here is what you can expect step by step:
First, the dentist applies local anesthesia to completely numb the area. The patient does not feel any pain during the procedure.
Then, the dentist uses a dental laser or surgical scalpel to precisely remove excess gum tissue. The advantage of the laser is that it simultaneously cuts and cauterizes the tissue, so bleeding is minimal.
In aesthetic procedures, the dentist carefully shapes the gum line to achieve symmetry and a proportional relationship between the teeth and gum tissue. The entire procedure takes about 30 minutes, depending on the number of teeth being treated.
After the procedure is completed, the patient can go home immediately. Local anesthesia is used.
Recovery after gingivectomy
Recovery after gingivectomy is relatively quick and without complications, especially when the laser method is used.
In the first hours after the procedure, as the anesthesia wears off, there may be mild discomfort or sensitivity at the treatment site. Most patients do not experience significant pain, and if needed, standard over-the-counter pain relievers are sufficient.
Just a few days after the procedure, the patient returns to daily activities without any limitations. Complete tissue healing takes several weeks, but without pain or significant discomfort.
During the first days of recovery, it is recommended to avoid hard, spicy and very hot food. Also, it is important to gently brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush to prevent infection and speed up recovery. Smokers are advised to avoid smoking in the days after the procedure because smoke slows down tissue healing.
Gingivectomy before crowns and veneers
Gingivectomy can also be performed as part of pre-prosthetic preparation – that is, before making dental crowns or veneers. When gums cover too large a portion of the tooth, it is impossible to make an aesthetically perfect crown or veneer that would look natural.
By removing excess gum tissue before prosthetic work, the dentist provides sufficient tooth surface for precise crown or veneer placement. In this way, not only is better aesthetics achieved, but also better fit and durability of the prosthetic work.
If you are planning to make crowns or veneers, your dentist will assess whether gingivectomy is necessary as a preparatory step.