Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery

what is cosmetic periodontal surgery?

Cosmetic periodontal procedures are surgical ways to cover unsightly, sensitive, or exposed root surfaces and to prevent future gum recession. If you are unhappy with the appearance of short, unsightly teeth, the esthetics may be greatly improved by periodontal surgical procedures used by Dr. Sobhani, possibly performed in tandem with cosmetic dental procedures performed by your dentist.

Although your teeth may appear short, they may actually be the proper length. The teeth may be covered with too much gum tissue.  Dr. Sobhani may be able to correct this by performing a periodontal plastic surgery procedure termed crown lengthening. During this procedure, excess gum alone, or in combination with bone are reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth. This can be done to more than one tooth, to even your gum line, and to create a beautiful smile.

Another cosmetic procedure is the soft tissue graft. It is used to cover unattractive, sensitive tooth roots, reduce gum recession, and protect the roots from decay and eventual loss.

Tooth loss causes the jaw bone to atrophy (reduce volume) and can lead to unnatural looking indentations in your gums and jaw. A natural relationship between a bridge (a prosthetic tooth replacement) and the toothless area may not be recaptured because of gaps under and between the replacement teeth. The replacement teeth may appear too long compared to nearby teeth.

Bone grafting following tooth loss can preserve the socket/ridge and minimize gum and bone collapse.  A more natural ridge contour leads to a more aesthetic tooth replacement for either an implant crown or fixed bridge around the replacement teeth.

For more information about gum grafting, and bone grafting, please refer to the treatment section of our website, and click on each individual procedure for an in-depth description.