It is estimated that gum disease affects nearly half of American adults over the age of 30. Gum disease, formally called periodontal disease, causes irritation and inflammation of the gum tissue that supports and holds the teeth in place. For individuals with more advanced gum disease, there is a treatment procedure available that can reverse the effects of the disease. A gingivectomy is an oral health procedure commonly used to treat advanced gum disease when other treatment approaches are no longer effective. The gingivectomy procedure removes damaged tissue and addresses ongoing gum problems that are impacting healthy tissue. Below, we provide more information about this oral surgery procedure.
What Is a Gingivectomy?
A gingivectomy is a minimally invasive oral surgery used on adult patients that involves removing damaged, diseased, and inflamed gum tissue. The treatment is also commonly used as a cosmetic approach to address genetically gummy smiles or gum tissue overgrowth to improve the appearance of the teeth and gums. Some adults experience enlarged gums caused by blood pressure medications, other medical treatments, or significant hormonal changes that can cause the gums to become bigger and look unnatural. There are alternative cosmetic treatments available to address the appearance of the gums; however, a gingivectomy is generally less invasive and more cost-effective than these alternatives.
Why Do I Need a Gingivectomy?
If your dental provider has recently suggested you may want to consider a gingivectomy procedure, you may be wondering why. There are several reasons the procedure may have been recommended to you:
- Inflamed Gums: A gingivectomy is a minimally invasive approach to reshaping gums that are irritated and inflamed.
- Cosmetic Reasons: If you have expressed dissatisfaction with the appearance of your gums, your provider may recommend the procedure to reshape and improve the appearance of the gum line.
- Gum Disease: If you have gingivitis, it may have caused “pockets” to form between the gums and the teeth. These pockets allow bacteria to build up and grow, causing even greater irritation to the gums. A gingivectomy may be used to reduce tissue so the teeth and gums can be restored, preventing further damage.
The Gingivectomy Procedure
A typical gingivectomy procedure takes between 30 minutes and one hour to perform, depending on the amount of gum tissue that needs to be removed. This minimally invasive procedure is commonly performed in a single dental visit, although if major gum contouring is needed, your provider may break it up over several visits. The procedure commonly occurs in the following steps:
- The provider will prepare the mouth, including numbing the area with a local anesthetic injected into the gums.
- The dental provider will use either a handheld laser tool or a scalpel to cut away sections of gum tissue.
- If using a laser, the provider will likely use the tool to vaporize excess tissue and sculpt the gum line after the tissue has been removed.
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