Will Your Gums Grow Back After Gum Contouring Surgery?

A gummy smile is a concern for many patients in Las Vegas, NV. Marielaina Perrone DDS is a well-trained and experienced dentist with over 20 years of experience. When you have overgrown gum tissues, your teeth will appear extremely small. Dr. Perrone can remove small portions of this gum tissue to create a more appealing esthetic smile.

Gum contouring creates a better-looking smile and improves oral health by reducing places where bacteria and plaque can get trapped, lowering your risk of developing gum disease or even tooth decay.

If you are looking for a way to restore and enhance your gummy smile, schedule a consultation with Dr. Perrone to learn more about surgical gum contouring.

Possible Causes Of Gingival Enlargement (Gingival Hyperplasia)

Long-term poor oral hygiene maintenance and poor plaque control are common risk factors of gum tissue hyperplasia.

Other factors include the following:

Gum Tissue Hyperplasia Due To Medications

Medication-induced gingival overgrowth is linked to the patient’s genetic makeup, the presence of dental plaque, and whether they had gingival inflammation before taking medications. Gingival hyperplasia is a known side effect of certain drugs. These medications include:

Cyclosporine — cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant used to prevent organ rejection after a transplant (heart, kidney, or liver). This drug can also be used to treat dry eyes, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis.

Anticonvulsants — including phenytoin, diltiazem, valproate, felbamate, and phenobarbital- are anticonvulsants used to control seizures. These drugs act to reduce collagen production in your body. This reduction of collagen can lead to gingival overgrowth.

Calcium channel blockers — including nifedipine, verapamil, and amlodipine, are common calcium channel blockers that relax the heart muscles and blood vessels. These drugs are commonly used to treat angina (chest pain), hypertension, irregular heartbeats, and high blood pressure. They can cause a connective tissue matrix overgrowth, resulting in gingival hyperplasia.

Hormonal Imbalances

Changes in hormone levels that occur during puberty and pregnancy can cause gingival hyperplasia. This is due to a sudden boost in hormones that can increase inflammation in the body.

Gingivitis is simply the inflammation of the gum tissues. It is the earliest and only reversible form of gum disease. If left untreated, it can lead to periodontitis. Maintaining a regular dental hygiene regimen reduces the chance of developing gum disease during puberty and pregnancy.

Genetic Factors

Genetic factors can cause rare types of gingival overgrowth that form during childhood. The gums become enlarged and slowly begin to grow over your teeth.

Leukemia

Gingival hyperplasia can be a sign of acute leukemia.

Other Health Conditions

These include:

• Systemic diseases, such as sarcoidosis, Crohn’s disease, neurofibromatosis, Kaposi sarcoma, acromegaly, amyloidosis, and granulomatosis with polyangiitis
• Zimmerman-Laband Syndrome
• Cowden’s Syndrome
• Certain Cancers and Blood Disorders
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Diabetes
• Deficiency Of Vitamin C

This gum tissue overgrowth can lead to tooth decay and possibly tooth loss. Gum recession can also be an indicator of progressive periodontal disease. If you note any gum recession or a change in your gums, seek out dental care as soon as possible since it may signal a severe dental or medical issue.

Who Is The Ideal Candidate For Gum Contouring?

This includes:

• Those who want to restore their gummy smile
• Your gums cover a significant portion of your teeth
• Those who have no existing dental issues
• Patients get frequent oral infections or have gum disease that they cannot control due to overgrown gum tissues.

Gum contouring can give you an even-looking esthetic gumline.

What Is Gum Contouring?

Marielaina Perrone DDS performs gum contouring in our Las Vegas, NV, area office. Before beginning, your teeth and gums are cleaned and dried. Next, Dr. Perrone uses a specialized laser to remove excess gum tissue, helping to create a more esthetic gum line. This laser tool will also cauterize the tissue, which helps minimize bleeding during the procedure. Once she is satisfied with the cosmetic results, the mouth is thoroughly cleaned.

Following gum contouring surgery, you may experience swelling or tenderness, which usually goes away in a few weeks when your gums fully heal. Dr. Perrone can offer after-care tips on how to keep your gums healthy and clean during the recovery process. Regular dental examinations and routine dental cleanings are essential to help maintain your oral health.

Will The Gums Grow Back After Treatment?

Your gum tissues will not grow back after gum contouring surgery. The bone is contoured, so it does not allow the gums to grow back and adhere to.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Gum Contouring?

Most dental insurance will not cover gum contouring surgery. However, Dr. Perrone accepts many different payment methods and offers 0% interest financing thru CareCredit to help make gum contouring more affordable.

Can Gum Contouring Improve Oral Health?

Marielaina Perrone DDS offers cosmetic gum contouring surgery for patients who desire to repair their gummy smiles. This gum contouring treatment can be done in just one visit to our Las Vegas, NV, area office.

To learn if you are a candidate for gum contouring surgery, schedule a consultation with Marielaina Perrone, DDS. Call us at 702-458-2929 for all your dental care needs.