Cosmetic Periodontal Procedures

Many people care about their smiles and want to make them look as nice as possible. While cosmetic procedures may not be medically necessary, you may wonder if there are other positive aspects of dental work for your smile. What cosmetic periodontal procedures are there? Can these cosmetic procedures improve your life in different ways? And why might you want to get one more than another?

These questions are essential, and our team at Elizabeth Oral Surgery Group may be able to help you find the procedure that best fits your goals. We have a great deal of experience helping our patients improve their smiles and overall dental health. Allow us to lead you in the right direction and break down everything you need to know about cosmetic dental procedures, especially if you want to improve your smile.

What Cosmetic Periodontal Procedures Are There?

There are many types of cosmetic periodontal procedures, and each one serves slightly different purposes depending on a patient’s needs. They can include:

Gum Whitening

Gum whitening, also called “gum bleaching,” is a procedure your dentist can perform to lighten and remove dark spots on your gums. Sometimes dark spots appear on a person’s gums due to smoking or poor oral health, but these marks can be removed with dental attention.

You can get your gums whitened in a dentist’s office. This procedure is non-surgical and can correct dark spots and lead to a brighter smile. Gum whitening is also a relatively quick procedure. However, if you have these spots due to periodontal disease, this underlying issue must be addressed before whitening. Treatment for periodontal disease may vary. Please speak with a dentist for personalized information.

Dental Implants

In some circumstances, dental implant procedures may be used to replace teeth. For example, advanced gum disease may cause you to lose one or more teeth. These permanent crowns can be embedded into your jawbone, allowing you to have a beautiful smile once again.

Not only do dental implants look and feel exactly like normal teeth, but they can also fit well into your day-to-day life after complete healing. However, if gum disease has also caused harm to part of your jaw bone, other procedures may be necessary before dental implants can be placed.

Gingivectomies

While gingivectomies may be used for esthetic purposes, they may also be useful in preventing further damage from gum disease. This means that the procedure may be necessary for reducing pain and other adverse effects in the periodontal region. Gingivectomy is the contouring of the gums, allowing proportions between these and your teeth to be more satisfactory. If you feel your teeth appear too small or too long, talking to your dentist about this procedure may be beneficial.

Gum Graft Surgeries

You may also want to consider gum graft surgery, which is used after gums have pulled back from your teeth. This may be the case in one small area or a significant portion of your mouth. Gum grafting may also prevent worsening tooth decay and cover root exposure, significantly decreasing pain in your mouth following the healing process. Depending on the severity of your case, you may need multiple gum grafts. We recommend speaking with a dentist before making a final decision.

There are also pinhole surgical techniques that are available. In less severe cases of receded gum lines, this technique can correct the gums while being less time intensive, less invasive, and requiring no grafts. Healing time with this technique is also generally faster.

How to Prevent Periodontal Disease

Many cosmetic periodontal procedures become necessary due to the onset of diseases in the mouth, such as periodontal or gum disease. Following your procedure, you may be able to help prevent other instances of these diseases. In addition to following your dentist’s recommendations following procedures, please consider the following:

• Brushing and flossing on a regular basis
• Regular check-ups with your dentist
• Stop smoking
• Reviewing your family history

If you’re concerned about periodontal disease, we encourage you to consult your dentist and look into your family’s history for more helpful information.

Improve Your Smile With Elizabeth Oral Surgery Group in Elizabeth, New Jersey

If you want to pursue cosmetic periodontal procedures, allow our surgeons at Elizabeth Oral Surgery Group to help. We have extensive experience in dental surgeries, earning us the trust and loyalty of patients through Elizabeth and other parts of New Jersey. Our team works hard to ensure the safety and satisfaction of every patient who works with us, and we may be able to do the same for you.

To discuss the concerns you want to address, ask any questions, and gain other useful information, please feel free to contact our team. You can get in touch with us by calling (908) 774-8196 or by filling out our contact form. We are patiently waiting and looking forward to hearing from you.