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Modern periodontics has developed techniques
to improve esthetics and provide adequate tissues to
help prevent gum recession and tooth loss. Cosmetic
surgery has become more popular than ever now that
the average life expectancy is increasing and
quality of life is improving. Periodontal plastic
surgery is also experiencing a surge in popularity
as people are recognizing that cosmetic periodontal
surgery could not only improve a smile but also help
it to last a lifetime. A recent pole of 253
consumers conducted by the American Academy of
Periodontology found the following:
• 50 percent consider the smile the first facial
feature they notice
• 80 percent are not happy with their smile
• Respondents were seven times more likely to have
periodontal and
smile enhancement procedures than facelifts
• Smile enhancement procedures outnumbered eyelid
surgeries five to one
Cosmetic Gum Problems
Unhealthy Gums
Periodontal disease may cause the gums to appear
red, swollen, and shiny. Prior to any
cosmetic dental procedure the gums have to be
examined and treated for periodontal disease.
Maintaining healthy gums after treatment is also
important. Routine dental hygiene visits and good
home care are instrumental in keeping your smile
healthy for a lifetime.
“Gummy Smile”
Teeth that look too short or a smile that looks too
“Gummy” can be the result of gum tissue covering too
much of some of the teeth. This may be due to normal
tooth development or medications that cause the gums
to grow over the teeth. Crown Lengthening procedures
can remove this excess tissue to expose more of the
crown of the tooth. The gumline can then be sculpted
to create the smile that is right for you.
Recession
If teeth appear too long or if the root surfaces are
becoming exposed and sensitive then gum recession
may causing this problem. Recession can occur from a
variety of causes including periodontal disease and
aggressive brushing. Soft tissue grafts and other
root coverage procedures are designed to cover
exposed roots, to prevent further recession, and
protect roots from decay.
Missing Teeth
Tooth loss can cause indentations or concavities in
the gums and jawbone where the tooth used to be.
This occurs because the jawbone recedes when it no
longer is holding a tooth in place. The concavity
causes the area to look unnatural. The replacement
tooth will also look longer as compared to the
adjacent teeth. Ridge augmentation procedures can
fill these defects and recapture the natural contour
of the gums and jawbone. One or more missing teeth
can be predictably replaced with dental implants.
Dental implants can look and feel like natural
teeth.
Uneven Gumline
If the gumline appears higher on some teeth and
lower on others, this may be the result of a
combination of gum recession, excess gum tissue, and
defects as a result of tooth loss. Treatment may
include crown lengthening, soft tissue grafting, and
ridge augmentation.
Pigmentation Problems
Changes in the color of the gum tissue may be
perfectly normal or the result of scarring from
previous dental procedures. Often times pigmentation
problems can be unsightly; however, soft tissue
procedures can predictably correct these problems.
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