Although gums are often overshadowed by pearly whites, gingival (gum) tissue plays a huge role in your oral health and smile aesthetics. Gum tissue surrounds and protects your teeth and underlying bone. Gums that are firmly attached to your teeth form a seal and provide a barrier against infection. Excessive gum tissue (gummy smile) can make you feel embarrassed to smile and negatively impact your quality of life. Too little gum tissue (gum recession) can expose sensitive tooth roots and increase the risk of decay. At Phoenix Implant Clinics, we offer customized soft tissue treatments using traditional and laser technologies, including crown lengthening, gum grafts, gingivectomies and frenectomies in Phoenix, AZ. Treating your soft tissue will rebalance and restore your oral health, help save your teeth, improve your smile aesthetics and enable you to live a functional and healthy life!
For all your soft tissue concerns, we welcome you to seek treatment from our experienced dentist, Dr. Harsini.
When a tooth is decayed, broken below the gum line or has insufficient crown height, crown lengthening is done to expose more of the tooth to allow placement of a restoration. For cosmetic purposes, crown lengthening in Phoenix, AZ can remedy excessive gum tissue in your smile zone (gummy smile). A local anesthetic is applied and sedation if you wish, then gum tissue and sometimes bone are reshaped to uncover more of the tooth structure. Post-procedural recovery time is minimal for most patients.
Gingivectomies are done when advanced gingivitis has caused gum tissue to pull away from the teeth, leading to deep periodontal pockets. This procedure is also performed to remove excessive gum tissue for cosmetic reasons to improve one’s smile zone. During a gingivectomy in Phoenix, AZ, gums are numbed with a local anesthetic, then a scalpel or laser is used to remove gum tissue. Once the tissue has been removed, a laser is used to vaporize remaining tissue and reshape the gum line.
Gingival (gum) recession is quite common, affecting 50% of individuals aged 18–64 and 88% of those aged 65 and older. Gum recession exposes tooth roots, thereby increasing the risk of tooth decay, sensitivity and bone loss around teeth. From an appearance standpoint, gum recession cans cause an unsightly smile. Gum grafts in Phoenix, AZ cover exposed tooth roots and add volume to the gum line, effectively eliminating or reducing sensitivity and improving aesthetics. Recovery usually takes one week to two weeks, although it may take longer depending on the extent of the gum grafts.
Frenectomy is a simple surgical procedure typically done in infants and children, involving removal of one or both frenums. The labial frenum is a small piece of soft tissue that connects gum tissue to the upper lip above the two upper front teeth. The lingual frenum connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. A lingual frenectomy is often referred to as tongue-tie surgery because this can cause speech issues in young children. If the lingual frenum restricts tongue function, this can also cause nursing problems in infants. A labial frenectomy is done to prevent or close a gap between the two front teeth and associated orthodontic issues.
During this procedure, gum tissue is removed near periodontal pockets, then bacteria is removed from the pockets, as well as any diseased tissue or bone surrounding it. The “osseous” part of the procedure refers to bone removal or reshaping that may be required as part of the surgery. After the pockets are cleaned out, the gum tissue is repositioned and sutured back around the roots of the teeth to help prevent future pockets from developing. Recovery is longer than the newer laser-assisted procedures because the tissue has been cut.
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