Gums sometimes grow where they shouldn’t.
Sometimes gums grow over the crowns of your teeth. Not only does this sound kind of creepy, it can create health problems, because the overgrown gum tissue leads to the formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums.
The deepening pockets make it difficult to clean between your teeth. Tartar and plaque build up. And, if the pockets become deep enough (over 5 millimeters), oxygen can’t get the to the base, allowing bad bacteria to grow.
In these situations, we can perform a gingivectomy, a surgical procedure that removes or reshapes the excess gum tissue, eliminating pockets to prevent or manage disease progression. With good oral hygiene and regular periodontal maintenance, it’s likely your gingivectomy will stop disease progression. So you can smile on.
You may notice a cosmetic fringe benefit as well: Following your gingivectomy, more of your teeth will be revealed, resulting in better balance between tooth length and gum line for a more pleasing smile.
Laser surgery is an increasingly popular option and we are on the leading edge here as well. Contact Dr. Sayed to see if gingivectomy would help you manage or prevent periodontal disease at 248.901.0000 or visit our contact page.
Please see: This patient-treatment video illustrates the gingivectomy procedure.