Gummy Smile
The term “gummy smile” describes the condition where the upper teeth appear too short due to excessive gum tissue covering the teeth. it may affect the patient’s confidence when smiling.
Thanks to advanced treatments available, Dr. Fokam can resolve the issue through surgical procedures such as esthetic crown lengthening, or upper lip repositioning.
Crown Lengthening
In presence of damage/caries beneath the gum line, with or without overgrown gum aggravating the issue, your dentist might need a little extra help to restore your tooth.
Crown lengthening is a periodontal procedure that involves surgically repositioning the gum line, expose more tooth structure, effectively ”lengthening” the part of the tooth that is visible in the mouth.
How Long is the Healing Process?
The use of a surgical microscope offers less invasive care. Your recovery should be shorter and you should have less tenderness because of the conservative nature of the procedures.
Complete healing can differ from person to person. It may take up to six months before any permanent crowns or veneers may be permanently cemented in esthetic cases. In general, a minimum of 6 weeks of the healing time is required before dental fillings can be placed to treat dental caries.
Surgical Lip Repositioning
Surgical lip repositioning is a simple surgical procedure that permanently corrects a gummy smile caused by a hyperactive upper lip and the natural positioning of the upper lip. A surgical lip repositioning treatment is performed by removing some tissue from inside the upper lip, creating what’s known as a partial-thickness flap, and restricting the movement of the hyperactive elevator muscles. The upper lip is then secured in a new, lower position, resulting in limited movement and a dramatically reduced gum display.
This simple solution to reduce the appearance of the gums will result in a beautiful smile for patients and transformed self-confidence!
01. Local Anesthesia is applied
02. Upper Lip is Secured
03. Surgical Microscope
04. Recovery
Frenectomy
A basic oral surgical procedure performed to remove or reposition a frenum. A frenum is a muscular attachment between the lips/tongue and the jaws. A frenum prevents the lips or tongue from moving as freely as they could.
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. Oral or IV sedatives can also be used to achieve a higher state of relaxation depending on the needs of an individual patient. The removal of the frenum does not cause any adverse effects, nor changes in your appearance.
The use of a surgical microscope offers less invasive care. Your recovery should be shorter and you should have less tenderness because of the minimally invasive nature of the procedure.
