There are a number of reasons why you might need gum surgery
Gum Grafting (Soft Tissue Graft)
- If your gums have receded due to gum disease, physical trauma, a change in tooth position or if you have naturally thin gum tissue, gum surgery may be needed.
- If gums recede severely, some of the tooth’s root will be exposed. This can make the tooth sensitive to hot or cold temperatures and more prone to root decay. You may also not like the way it looks.
Soft-tissue grafts are used to add more gum tissue. This can accomplish several things:
- Prevent further recession
- Cover the exposed root
- Stop the sensitivity
- Improve the look of the tooth
If you have naturally very thin gum tissue it increases the likelihood your gums will recede. A soft-tissue graft may prevent problems in the future.
(These procedures were performed by Dr. Daphne Kwan)
Gingival Flap Surgery
Gingival flap surgery is used to treat advanced stages of gum disease. Usually, scaling and root planing is done first. If this treatment does not eliminate the gum infection, gingival flap surgery may be used to remove all plaque and tartar (calculus) from around your teeth.
Gummy Smiles
Gum surgery can also be used to reshape the gums for cosmetic reasons. It is used to improve the cosmetic look of your teeth, particularly, if you have what is commonly known as a ‘gummy smile’. This is a condition in which the gums cover too much of your teeth, usually the front teeth, and this can leave the length of the teeth looking too short, which can affect your general desire to smile. Gummy smiles can have an effect on your self-confidence and your desire to smile in public. Thankfully, Dr. Daphne Kwan in Toronto can use gum surgery to painlessly correct your ‘gummy smile’.
Gingivectomies
You may also need gum surgery to reshape healthy gum tissue around teeth. Gaps (pockets) that form between the teeth and gums can trap bits of food, harbor colonies of bacteria, and make it difficult to keep the area clean. If the pockets involve only soft tissue, they can be removed by trimming the gums or a gingivectomy. If you have too much gum tissue around your teeth you may want to have it removed. Extra gum tissue can make your teeth and gums hard to keep clean. In severe cases, this condition can interfere with chewing and speech. Excess growth of gum tissue can be caused by certain medicines but sometimes there is no apparent cause.
Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is done to expose more of a tooth. Sometimes, not enough of a tooth structure stands out above the gum to support a filling or crown. This can happen when a tooth breaks off at the gum line. It can also happen when a crown or filling falls out of a tooth and there is decay underneath. To place a filling or crown, Dr. Daphne Kwan needs to expose more of your tooth.
