Periodontal (gum) surgery can offer both health and cosmetic benefits to the patient. It is a common procedure for those who have uneven gum lines and thus more tissue coverage on some teeth as compared to others. For these individuals, periodontal surgery can create new contours for a more even and thus a more aesthetically pleasing look.
Recontouring of the gum line can offer a similar benefit to individuals with excess periodontal tissue, which can give the appearance of a “gummy” smile, as well as to those whose gums have receded due to health issues, genetics, or the effects of medication. In these patients, gums pull away and cause teeth to look unnaturally long, while simultaneously increasing the vulnerability of the teeth themselves.
When gingival recession progresses to uncover a tooth's root, which should be protected by the gum line, surgery becomes not only cosmetic but preventive. Roots that are exposed are at risk of decay and eventual tooth loss, and the grafting of new gum tissue can return to the teeth the protection that nature intended.
For more information about the dental procedures provided by Roderick A. Garcia, D.M.D., please visit www.roderickgarciadmd.com or call 505-821-6119.