As a cosmetic dentist, there is a fundamental focus that drives our practice. Our attention is squarely focused on the appearance of the teeth and gums. As such, our craft has been honed in such a manner that we have a reputation for creating beautiful smiles. When you decide that you want whiter teeth, you come see us for teeth whitening. Lose a tooth? We can provide you with dental implants, a dental crown, or a bridge to replace the lost tooth or teeth. Other procedures we do on a daily basis are contouring or reshaping of the teeth, installing dental veneers, and using Invisalign® to help straighten your teeth. While all of these are well known, there are also some procedures that are not so well known, among the populous, but are still regular features that are used to improve oral health. Two of these, described below, were actually founded in the medical aspects of dentistry. Today, they are still being used to cure medical issues, but have also found a cosmetic application and as such we use these procedures in our cosmetic dentist office to help make your gums look better.
One procedure a cosmetic dentist does, which is often overlooked, is known as a gingivectomy. This procedure is still used to make sure a person does not lose their teeth, and so there is significant crossover in function and esthetics. Traditionally people who have a gingivectomy are suffering from a gum disease like periodontitis. The disease causes the gums to become separated from the teeth. This in turn creates deep pockets in the gums which are a great breeding ground for infections and bacteria. Plaque, which is normally hard to remove, becomes even harder to brush away when it can hide in these deep pockets. In order to protect the underlying bone, which supports the teeth, we may suggest that you to have this procedure done. These deep pockets also create an ugly smile, which is where the cross over into cosmetic dentistry takes place.
The surgery is performed using local anesthesia which is injected into the gums around the site of the pockets. Following this, we will trim away the excess or loose gum tissue, effectively removing the pockets and restoring the gums to their healthy and beautiful form. After the surgery, we may cover the gums with putty to offer a level of protection while they are healing completely. While we are working to remove the pockets, as a cosmetic dentist, we will also make sure to contour your gums, which change frequently during this process, to a pleasing shape.
The other procedure that we do quite frequently is known as tissue sculpting or gum reshaping. People who suffer from conditions like gum recession frequently find that they need their gums to be reshaped so that they properly cover the teeth. Done in the clinic, tissue sculpting is performed under a local anesthesia using laser, radiosurgery, or a traditional scalpel to sculpt the gums into the proper shape. These are only two of the procedures we perform that can help your gums to be healthier and look more pleasing.
