A Gingivectomy becomes necessary when the gums have pulled away from the teeth which creates deep pockets that become susceptible to periodontal disease. These deep pockets make it hard to clean away plaque and tartar. A Gingivectomy is the surgical removal of the gum tissue and is usually done before the gum disease has damaged the bone and supporting teeth.
We do this by removing and reshaping any loose, damaged or diseased gum tissue. We perform this procedure in order to get rid of the pockets between the teeth and the gums. By removing the pocket walls, a Gingivectomy allows your periodontist to remove the calculus and perform Scaling and Root Planing on the tooth roots. This creates a favorable environment for healing in the gingiva to occur as well as enabling the restoration of the gingival contour.
The Gingivectomy procedure was originally developed in order to treat periodontal disease but it has now become common practice in Periodontal Cosmetic Surgery. A Gingivectomy is used to remove overgrown gum tissue and to improve the appearance of the gums.
Gingivectomy is the most common procedure performed using dental lasers. Lasers can be used to precisely ‘incise’ (shape) the gingiva for restorative, cosmetic and periodontal procedures. Lasers have the additional benefit of offering rapid healing time and reduced pain.
How do you prepare for a Gingivectomy?
Before either of these procedures, we will have a discussion with you regarding your oral hygiene habits. Your periodontist will also give you further instructions for preparing properly for the surgery. It is important that before a Gingivectomy you get a thorough cleaning. You may have to go through root planing in order to remove the tartar or calculus from the existing pockets.
