Gingivectomy is a quick, predictable and painless intervention that consists of removing excess gum for aesthetic reasons or as part of periodontitis treatment. In both cases, gingivectomy is performed when the gums cover an important part of the teeth, and they appear very small or unnatural.

In which cases is gingivectomy performed?

Have you heard of the “gummy smile”? Some people become reluctant to smile because their gums appear disproportionately larger than their teeth when doing so. When this happens, experts speak of a “gummy smile,” applying this expression when the height of the gum seen when smiling exceeds 4 mm. You can treat it by having gummy smile surgery. At an aesthetic level, the “gingival smile” can be defined as a lack of harmony between the gums, the size of the teeth and the anatomical position of the upper jaw because:

The patient has a short upper lip and does not completely cover the gum, or his upper lip is hypermobile; that is, it moves too much and, when smiling, it goes up more than it should, exposing a large part of the gum.
The patient has very prominent upper teeth because his jaw bone is too large, long, or too advanced to the rest of the face.
The patient has heavily worn upper teeth, which shortens their length. As a consequence, the height of the gum appears greater.
The patient’s permanent teeth have erupted inappropriately or have undergone altered passive eruption. In these cases, the gum does not retract properly when the teeth come out.
The patient’s gums have receded and become keratinized (hardened by lack of moisture) due to periodontitis. In these cases, bacterial plaque can cause an infection in the area, damage the tooth’s root and cause serious inflammation of the gums. In these cases, periodontic treatment is recommended.

Currently, this procedure is also indicated to correct gum overgrowth problems.

What is a gingivectomy: How is it performed?

Gingivectomy is a surgical procedure that involves trimming the gum surrounding the tooth. When we talk about aesthetic gingivectomy, the objective of the intervention is to discover the dental piece and achieve a more proportionate and beautiful smile since the teeth will appear larger, longer and less square. When the excess gum is due to a bad eruption of the teeth or periodontitis, gingivectomy is “functional”:

In the first case, non-retraction of the gums can affect mandibular development and bite, seriously affecting oral health.
In cases of periodontitis, a gingivectomy is performed once the infection is cured to reduce the periodontal pocket caused by inflammation.

Gingivectomy, also known as “crown lengthening,” should be performed by a periodontist. The procedure is simple but must be very precise and requires local anesthesia. First, the excess gingival tissue is surgically removed with scalpels and special instruments such as angled blades, electrosurgery, or laser surgery. Normally, after surgery, very fine stitches are placed that are removed after a week. Gingivectomy is often completed with gingivoplasty, a procedure that removes excess gum tissue and refines the remaining gum tissue so that it fits and looks natural around the tooth.

How much does a gingivectomy hurt? Should I have special care after the intervention?

Gingivectomy is a quick and painless process because the area is anesthetized. However, because it is a surgical intervention, complications may appear. However, most are infrequent and arise during the operation (small hemorrhages, tears, soft tissue injuries, nerve injuries, etc.). The gingivectomy postoperative period is simple, although infections or bleeding may appear in the area during the first 24-48 hours afterward. In addition, it is common to feel discomfort when eating food due to prolonged exposure of nerve endings to the outside. Before leaving the clinic, the periodontist will check the degree of bleeding and compress the wound with moist gauze. In the following days, it is not recommended to use mouthwash and smoke since the heat and smoke can irritate the gums and delay healing. As occurs after periodontitis, care after a gingivectomy consists of drinking cold liquids, chewing carefully, eating semi-solid foods and letting the area rest. During the first 24-36 hours, the patient may notice discomfort that can be alleviated by taking analgesics. The total recovery of the gum occurs in two weeks. If the bleeding or pain persists or is intense, we recommend consulting the dentist. At Virginia dental Care, you can get all kinds of treatments, including aesthetic gingivectomy, which offers highly visible and satisfactory results.