Gingivectomy: Procedure and Aftercare Guide

Poor oral hygiene can build up plaque between your teeth, leading to gum infection. Failure to go for treatment will lead to the progression of the gum infection, causing gingivitis. Gingivitis will cause your gums to be tender, dusky red, and swollen. Fortunately, you can look for a dentist who treats periodontitis in Houston, TX. One of the treatments the periodontist can recommend is gingivectomy. The treatment can reverse the effects of gum disease.

Furthermore, the treatment can be recommended for people with a gummy smile. Besides gum disease causing a gummy smile, genetics can also predispose you to the condition. Luckily, we have a solution for you. Keep on reading to find out more about it.

What Is Gingivectomy?

Gingivectomy is a treatment that involves the removal of a portion of your gums around the teeth. The treatment aims to expose more of the patient’s teeth or to treat gum disease. Therefore, if you have a gummy smile affecting your confidence whenever you smile, it would be best to go for a gummy smile treatment in Houston, TX. Are you a suitable candidate for this treatment?

Signs That You Require Gingivectomy

Besides having a gummy smile, there are symptoms of gum disease that will tell you, you need immediate treatment. Here are some of them:

• Tooth sensitivity, especially to hot and cold drinks and foods.

• Swollen and red gums.

• Loose teeth.

• Bleeding gums that are tender.

• Bad breath does not go away even after brushing your teeth.

Another sign of gum disease is inflammation of the gums caused by gingivitis. Gingivitis is mainly caused by poor oral hygiene, aging, and abrasive brushing.

Now that you know what to look for, what should you expect during the procedure?

Gingivectomy Procedure

After finding a dentist who performs gummy smile treatment near you, they will notify you that the treatment will take around an hour. However, if several teeth are involved, the procedure will take longer. Moreover, if there is a severe infection of the gums, the dentist will recommend multiple visits for successful gum reshaping and removal.

Before proceeding with the treatment, the dentist has to determine how much gum tissue will be removed. He will provide an image showing how your gums and smile will look after the treatment. Once you’re satisfied, the procedure can begin.

Local anesthesia will be injected into the infected gums. Next, gingivectomy laser equipment or scalpel is used to cut away the infected or excess gum tissue. Because your mouth is open throughout the procedure, there will be excess saliva production. The dentist will use a suction tool to remove it.

Once the excess gum tissue is removed, the remaining tissue is reshaped along the gum line. Stitches will be used to reattach the gums in and around the tooth. Cleaning will be done around the treated area using special rinses and saline.

Lastly, the periodontist will dress the wound using bandages around the gums and teeth. The surgical dressing is essential in healing as it protects against infections.

What To Expect During the Recovery Period

After a gingivectomy, you will experience bleeding and swelling around the treated area. Moreover, there will also be slight pain once the anesthesia wears off. The dentist will recommend over-the-counter painkillers to deal with the pain.

The dentist will show you how to change the surgical dressing before leaving the clinic. This is to ensure that you can change the bandages yourself at home.

Aftercare Tips

Avoid eating anything immediately after the surgery. This is because your mouth will still numb due to the anesthesia. You can accidentally bite your side cheeks during this period while eating.

After it is safe to eat, stick to soft foods like yogurt, soup, pasta, custard, and eggs. Avoid hard, salty, spicy, cold, and hot foods and drinks. Moreover, you should avoid crunchy foods like crisps and nuts as they get easily dislodged between your teeth.

Proper oral hygiene should be maintained. However, avoid brushing around the treated area, as this can cause lacerations on the tender gums. Additionally, you should avoid flossing the treated teeth during the first week after surgery.

Use an ice pack to reduce swelling. Use the icepack for around 20 minutes and delay using the icepack for another 20 minutes.

So, if you have a gummy smile affecting your smile or have noticed the early signs of gum disease, don’t hesitate to visit The Dentists at 650 Heights. We have trained professionals who look at your gums and determine the most suitable treatment.