Treatment for Excessive or Uneven Gums
Overgrown gum tissue doesn’t look appealing and can result in a lack of confidence when showing your smile.
Luckily, treating this issue is simple and the results can leave you looking and feeling great.
Causes of Excessive Gums (AKA “Gummy” Smiles)
Excessive gums, formally referred to as “gingival hyperplasia” is an overgrowth of gingival tissue around the teeth. There are a number of reasons why this condition can occur. Some of the most common causes are poor oral hygiene, hormonal changes in pregnancy, taking certain medications (like those for blood pressure,) or genetics.
Excessive Gums: Treatment Option
Luckily there’s a dental procedure our Phoenix dentist can perform that will treat your gummy smile. The treatment isn’t hard to do, and it doesn’t take long to complete either!
In order to remove excessive gum tissue, you’ll be given a local anesthetic to numb the area thoroughly. Our dentist will use a state-of-the-art laser: a handheld device that has a tip the size of a pen.
Dr. Behbahani will use his skills and experience in cosmetic dentistry by guiding the small laser to lift away excess tissue and shape the contours appropriately. The results will be visible immediately. Lasers also speed up healing, as there is no bleeding or sutures involved.
After Your Gummy Smile Treatment (Gum Reduction)
Following your procedure, you may experience some mild discomfort. An over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drug such as Mortin (ibuprofen), or Aleve (naproxen sodium), should be enough to relieve any soreness. Fortunately, laser treatments make things much more comfortable and less invasive than conventional gum surgery.
For a few days after your treatment, you’ll want to rinse your mouth thoroughly, several times a day. We may give you a mouthwash to use, or an at-home mixture of warm salty water works well too. Rinsing regularly will help soothe your gums if any irritation is present.
In addition to rinsing your mouth well, you’ll want to brush your teeth and gums at least twice per day, preferably more. Brushing promotes healing. At first, you may experience a bit of irritation, but this will go away soon enough, and it shouldn’t discourage you from brushing.
Use an extra-soft bristled toothbrush and gently clean the gum tissue as well as your teeth. Do not scrub too aggressively as this will cause further damage and a delay in recovery.
After a couple of weeks, we recommend seeing our Phoenix dentist for a follow-up. If there are areas that still have excessive gum tissue, then we can adjust them at that time.
Gummy Smile Treatment in Phoenix
Don’t leave the outcome of your smile in the hands of just anyone. Visit Central Valley Dentistry and see why so many families in Phoenix have chosen our dentist for their oral health needs. If you suffer from excessive, or uneven gum tissue and you want to see how it can be improved, then give us a call today! Dr. Behbahani and our staff look forward to seeing you.
