Gum Disease Treatment in Winslow, AZ
At Winslow Dental, Dr. Brent J. Gardner, DDS, provides comprehensive gum disease treatment to help patients maintain healthy gums and prevent tooth loss. Using advanced techniques, he treats inflammation, infection, and early signs of periodontal disease, restoring gum health and protecting overall oral wellness. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 321 W 2nd St, Winslow, AZ 86047.
There are many elements that make up an ideal smile; bright, healthy-looking teeth immediately come to mind. But the gum tissue that surrounds and supports those teeth also plays a big role in how appealing your smile will look.
Cosmetic Gum Problems
Cosmetic Gum Surgery
Cosmetic gum surgery. There are many elements that make up an ideal smile; bright, healthy-looking teeth immediately come to mind. But the gum tissue that surrounds and supports those teeth also plays a big role in how appealing your smile will look.
There are various cosmetic issues involving gum (gingival) tissue. For example, your smile may look “gummy” — meaning you seem to display too much gum tissue when you smile, or your teeth appear too short. Sometimes it’s the opposite problem — your teeth appear too long because your gum tissue has receded (pulled back), exposing tooth-root surfaces that were covered at one time. Or, you may have an uneven gum line, meaning gum tissue covers some of your teeth more than others. All of these cosmetic gum problems can be successfully treated with cosmetic procedures performed in the dental office.
Cosmetic Gum Problems
Excess Tissue: A gummy smile can be caused by excessive gum tissue covering more enamel surface of a tooth’s crown (upper portion) than normal. If that is the case, a procedure known as “crown lengthening” can be performed, in which gum tissue (and sometimes a small amount of bone tissue) is removed to expose more tooth surface.
Gum recession: occurs when your gums pull back, revealing the roots of your teeth. This can create a cosmetic concern as the exposed root surfaces, lacking enamel, often appear more yellow than the tooth crowns. Additionally, these exposed areas can become sensitive to temperature changes or touch and are more susceptible to decay. To address this, gum grafting procedures can restore the coverage of exposed roots. These procedures involve relocating healthy gum tissue from one part of the mouth to another, helping to protect the roots and improve the overall appearance of your smile.
Uneven Gum Line: If you have an uneven gum line where some teeth are covered by more tissue than others, it is often possible to recontour (reshape) the tissue for a very pleasing effect. This can be done conventionally with a surgical scalpel or with newer dental laser technology. The advantage of a laser is that it seals the tissue as it sculpts it, making the procedure more comfortable and requiring a shorter healing time.
What to Expect
All cosmetic gum surgery can be performed at the dental office — and it usually requires only a local anesthetic (numbing shot). In fact, for laser surgery you may need only a topical anesthetic applied in gel form. If you would like a deeper level of relaxation, you can have oral or possibly even an IV sedative; but if this is required, you will need a ride home. Laser surgery leaves no open wounds and causes minimal, if any, discomfort, though the anatomy of the area may preclude laser use. An examination is required to determine whether conventional or laser treatment is in your best interests.
Grafts may take longer to heal, particularly if tissue is taken from the roof of your mouth. If that’s the case, you will have two sites that need to heal: the donor site from which the tissue was taken, and the recipient site where the tissue was attached. Both of these sites will require stitches, usually of the dissolving type. You will need to eat a softer diet and avoid chewing on that side of your mouth for a few days. Though full healing may take a few weeks, you will be able to resume your normal activities the very next day. Whichever kind of cosmetic gum surgery you may need, the procedures are routine and predictable — and they can do wonders for your smile!
Additional Services You May Need
Additional Services You May Need
▸ Implants
▸ Crowns
▸ Cosmetic Dentist
▸ Dental Fillings
▸ Cosmetic Contouring
▸ Dental Sealants
▸ Excessive Gums
▸ Dental Grafts
▸ Braces
▸ Dentures
▸ Dental Bridge
▸ Sleep Apnea
▸ Periodontal Therapy
▸ Veneers
▸ Tooth Extractions
▸ TMJ Therapy
▸ Wisdom Teeth Removal
▸ Root Canal
▸ Same Day Crowns
▸ Sedation Dentistry
▸ Oral Surgery
▸ Whitening
▸ Flap Surgery
▸ Clear Aligners
▸ Emergency Dentist
▸ Invisalign
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