Gingivectomy is the technical name for the procedure people tend to know more commonly as a gum lift. This is a procedure conducted by a cosmetic dentist to reshape an individual’s gums. The goal being to provide the individual with a more visually appealing smile.
Reasons People Have Their Gums Reshaped
There are a plethora of reasons why an individual would turn to a dentist to have his or her gums reshaped. For starters, their gums may have not receded the way they should have when a permanent tooth erupted from the gums. It is also possible their gums receded too much and expose more tooth surface than the individual would like to show people. You tend to fall in one of two categories when you want a gum lift. You either have a gummy smile or a toothy smile.
In theory, getting a gum lift is not that gift from any other type of cosmetic procedure. You simply are not happy with the way your smile looks and you want the dentist to change it for you. In most cases, a gum lift is only performed on an individual’s front teeth. This is because your front teeth impact the visual appearance of your smile more than any other teeth.
Is The Procedure Painful?
There was a time in dental history where gum lifts were extremely painful. They involved stitches and a lengthy healing process. Today, your cosmetic dentist can perform a gum lift with lasers. You feel minimal pain, get instant results, and do not have to worry about a painful healing process.
From a health point of view, there aren’t really any benefits to getting a gum lift. This is a cosmetic procedure for someone who is unhappy with the way their smile looks. If you are unhappy with how much (or little) your gums impact your smile, talk to your dentist about gum lifts.
