Have you ever looked at your smile in the mirror and wished it looked better? Or deleted a selfie because you didn’t like it?
Your smile is your expression of confidence, warmth, and joy to the rest of the world. If you’re not happy with it, it can’t shine to its full potential.
But did you know there’s an art and science behind the perception of an attractive or ideal smile? It’s true! And your gums play a big part in both the appearance and health of your smile.
Here’s how!
Your smile and gum recession
Gum recession happens when the gums surrounding your teeth pull back from your teeth, exposing more tooth than usual. In severe cases, this can even expose the roots of your teeth. Because your roots rely on a blanket of protection (aka your gums), receding gums can cause tooth sensitivity and pain as your roots don’t have a protective layer of enamel.
But how does this happen? The most common cause of receding gums is periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease (or how it’s commonly called gum disease) can spell a world of troubles for your smile and not just cosmetically. Without treatment from a professional, your gum disease can progress into tooth loss, bone loss, and cause more issues for your oral health.
At your first visit with us, one of our highly-experienced periodontists (Dr. Stilley, Dr. Mashkouri or Dr. Medina) will assess your gum health and go over a detailed treatment plan with you. As for fixing receding gums, a gum contouring surgery like pinhole rejuvenation, gum grafting, or the innovative LANAP (laser-assisted new attachment procedure) may be recommended to restore your gum line and the balance of your beautiful smile.
What about a gummy smile?
For those who feel like they have “big gums small teeth” or a “gummy smile”, a treatment like esthetic crown lengthening or BOTOX® may be your ticket to a harmonious smile. Which option we recommend goes back to the causes of your gummy smile. Is it as simple as an overactive lip muscle or do you have excessive gum tissue? These are things we’ll discuss at your first visit with us.
Esthetic crown lengthening is a procedure used to reshape your gum tissue to reveal more of your teeth. Multiple studies show that the most attractive smile has 2 mm of gums showing and white rounded which an esthetic crown lengthening can give you!
What is gum contouring surgery?
We briefly mentioned gum contouring before. Gum contouring involves reshaping your gum line by either removing or restoring gum tissue to achieve a perfectly balanced smile. While this is often what first brings patients into our offices, it’s important to not only assess the appearance of your gums, but their health as well.
If the cause of your receding gums or gummy smile is related to periodontal disease, you’ll need to make sure you get your deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) in first. Tooth roots free of gum-irritating plaque and tartar ensure you get the best possible gum contouring results.
Advanced cases of periodontal disease may require more traditional gum surgery such as gingival flap surgery or flap and osseous surgery. This procedure involves lifting the gum tissue from your teeth to remove bacteria and reshape bone that was lost to deep rooted infections. While it is the most invasive procedure to treat gum disease, we also offer a minimally-invasive approach through LANAP (laser gum surgery) to those who would benefit from it.
Why are healthy gums so important?
Your gums play an important part in the beauty of your smile and also in your oral health. They provide essential support and protection for your teeth and jaws acting as a shield against harmful bacteria. If you practice poor oral hygiene, you’ll begin to notice the signs of gum disease like swollen or red gums. Because while your gums are a blanket of protection, they need your help daily to remove the bacteria that so irritates them and causes infection.
Still have questions about how gums affect your smile?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions! You deserve to feel confident in your smile at every age.
We’ll take the time to understand your concerns and develop a personalized treatment plan that meets your needs and helps you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted.
Schedule an appointment with one of our experienced periodontal specialists in New Port Richey / Trinity or Tampa / Carrollwood today!
