Your gums are just as important as your teeth when it comes to supporting your smile. That’s why Dr. Gabriel specializes in gum procedures to improve the health of your soft tissue and also diagnose certain issues including decay or infection. If you’re noticing that your gums make your teeth look longer or shorter than they should, chances are your gums need dental care.
When your gums have receded due to gum recession, a soft tissue graft is necessary to restore the lining of your soft tissue. During this procedure, your dentist will use soft tissue from a different source to cover the exposed areas of your teeth. While gum recession might be seen as a cosmetic issue, it can also cause further complications with your teeth like decay, serious infection, and abrasion unless you undergo a soft tissue graft.
Dr. Gabriel will begin your procedure by taking small pieces of tissue from the roof of your mouth or using graft materials from a tissue bank. These pieces of tissue will be used to make your new gums. During your procedure, he’ll connect the new tissue to your existing gums and shape it along your gum line to make it look natural.
After your procedure, you’ll be able to drive yourself home unless you opted for sedation. In that case, you’ll need someone else to drive. It’s vital for your recovery to take time to relax after your surgery and to follow Dr. Gabriel’s post-operative instructions.
Undergoing a gum graft may be the right care for your smile for issues such as:
While gum grafts can shorten your teeth, crown lengthening is performed to improve the appearance of your teeth or prepare the mouth for further dental treatment. If your teeth appear short or you have a “gummy smile,” Dr. Gabriel can remove the excess soft tissue. Reshaping or recontouring your gum tissue will make your teeth appear broader and help make other treatments easier to conduct such as fillings and porcelain veneers.
Your dentist will give you a local anesthetic and your choice of sedation to ensure a more comfortable appointment. Dr. Gabriel will begin by making a small incision in the area where the gums are too long. This will be used to reposition your gums and pull them down to create your new gum line contour. Even if one tooth requires reshaping, neighboring teeth are treated to provide even more contouring and improve the look of your smile.
If you were sedated for your procedure, you’ll need to arrange for someone else to drive you home. We advise you to rest so your body can focus on healing and to follow the post-operative care instructions provided by Dr. Gabriel as well.
Dr. Gabriel may be able to lengthen your crowns if you:
Soft tissue grafting isn’t painful since Dr. Gabriel will give you a local anesthetic before your procedure. This will ensure that you won’t experience any pain or discomfort. We also offer sedation dentistry to patients who are feeling nervous about their procedure. Make sure to also follow our dentist’s post-op instructions so you can avoid complications afterward.
The fastest way to heal from your soft tissue graft is to follow the post-operative instructions provided by your dentist. This aftercare is vital to your smile’s recovery and will protect you from developing infections or complications. Dr. Gabriel also provides PRP therapy, a technique that helps patients to heal from surgery by utilizing their body’s healing power.
Your crown lengthening procedure won’t be painful because you’ll be given an anesthetic beforehand. Our dentist can also provide sedation to make your experience more comfortable. While it’s normal to feel some mild discomfort after your crown lengthening treatment, this will subside on its own with pain and antibacterial medication.
Most insurance companies will cover a portion of your gum procedure if it’s related to tooth decay or other oral health issues. Our office recommends that you contact your provider to get an accurate understanding of your policy. During your initial consultation with your dentist, they’ll be able to give an estimate as to how much the procedure will cost. We also provide a variety of financing options to make your treatment more affordable and accessible.