Gingivoplasty: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Gingivoplasty is the process by which the gingiva, also known as gums, is reshaped to correct deformities. It is also known as gingival sculpting or gingival contouring. There are a variety of reasons for why this is conducted. Firstly, it can be done for cosmetic reasons, to make the gums look better and to have a better smile. Having a better smile is more useful than most people probably think. Studies show that having a good smile gives a better impression and makes it easier to convince someone to do something. Improper tooth brushing can cause the initiation of deep gum pockets and the deposit of calculus and plaque. Gingivoplasty is required in this situation as well. When the gum tissue that is present around has grown covering over a huge part of a tooth, it can look like that tooth is too small or crooked. This can also be fixed be gingivoplasty, by removing or reshaping the excess gum tissue. Periodontal and gingival disease causes deformities in the gums like gingival clefts, craters(caused by acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis which causes pain and bleeding gums) and enlargements. Gingivoplasty is also done for these deformities, as they can aggravate or lengthen the disease, due to the accumulation of plaque and food debris.

In the beginning, you will need to visit your dentist. If you want to undergo gingivoplasty for cosmetic or aesthetic purposes, you will have to inform your dentist. If your dentist notices that there is a medical reason for gingivoplasty, he or she will inform you what is required, like flap surgery, bone and tissue grafts, composite build-up or stimulation of tissue. In some situations, you will be able to discuss the problem with your doctor and undergo the entire process during a regular sitting, however, some situations will require more detailed discussion, planning, and consultation. Periodontists and cosmetic dentists usually perform the process of gingivoplasty. It is accomplished with a scalpel ,periodontal knife, rotary coarse diamond stones, electrodes or laser. Only one visit is required, and the process takes only about an hour. Lasers are the most common method used for gingivoplasty, instead of all the other methods listed above. After administering local anesthesia, the excess gum tissue is trimmed, re-contoured and sealed using a soft tissue laser. There is no requirement for stitches, and there is hardly any pain or discomfort involved, with no bleeding.

Like previously mentioned, there are many reasons for wanting to undergo gingivoplasty. Most of these reasons are cosmetic and aesthetic, done by a person so their smile looks better. This is done by some rich businessmen to have a greater first impression, along with actors who want to look better. However, this is usually done by normal people. There are also some medical reasons for gingivoplasty, and these have also been mentioned above. You can consult your dentist for advice on whether you need gingivoplasty or not, and he or she can tell you if you have a gummy smile, or if your gum line appears to be uneven.

Since gingivoplasty is a cosmetic treatment, it is usually only considered if you have a cosmetic reason. Hence, there is no such thing as eligibility for gingivoplasty, as anyone who has a gummy smile or misshapen gingiva.

Rarely, if the surgery is improper, you may or may not face infection. Minor swelling or discomfort occurring after the surgery is completed could also potentially take place. Since gingivoplasty is considered a surgery, it is important you check the credentials of the periodontist or cosmetic dentist who is performing the surgery, and make sure they are skilled in and have previous experience of working with dental lasers and is experienced in oral surgery. Luckily, since gingivoplasty is performed under the effect of local anesthesia, there is no reason to fear the risks posed by general anesthesia, like temporary confusion and memory loss, nausea and vomiting, sore throat, bruising from the IV drip and so on.

Like previously mentioned, you may or may not see minor swelling or discomfort for a period of time post the procedure, and this may last a few days. However, nowadays, it will most probably only take one day to get rid of these symptoms. However, you might have to change your diet to exclude everything except for soft foods and liquids for a few days. Your dentist may also prescribe some medication for any pain you might experience after the surgery.

Due to the wonders of modern science and medicine, if executed properly by a periodontist or cosmetic dentist with the relevant credentials and experience with oral surgery and dental lasers, you may not even need to recover. However, if the surgery includes grafts or bone contouring, you will need to lower your physical activity for a short period of time to prevent the reinitiation of the surgical site. If you experience slight swelling or pain, it is completely normal, and it should be present for only a few days, if more than one. Also, the recovery time depends on a number of factors. For example, if the surgery was conducted with an oral laser, what type of laser was used? It will take the least amount of time if diode lasers or carbon dioxide lasers are used, as they result in minimal discomfort.

The price of gingivoplasty in India does not factor in insurance, as insurance usually does not apply to it, because it is mainly a cosmetic and aesthetic process. Gingivoplasty can cost from ten thousand to twenty-thousand rupees in India, without factoring the cost of appointments with dentists to discuss the process, and follow up appointments. However, if you just want a minor operation, which can be done in less than an hour, the price will be dramatically reduced.

Gingivoplasty is the process in which the gingiva, also known as gums, is brought to a proper shape to rectify the deformities. It can be done by using a scalpel, a periodontal knife, rotary coarse diamond stones, electrodes or a laser. If it is done using a laser, it is generally using a carbon dioxide laser or a diode laser. It is more or less permanent, however, your gums can be reshaped if there is a reason. Gingivectomy is similar to gingivoplasty, however, it is used for cutting away a diseased part of your gums, for example, if suprabony pockets, gingival enlargements, or uprabony periodontal abscesses are not present.

Since gingivoplasty is usually a cosmetic operation, if you want, you can just stay with a gummy smile or with your teeth appearing to be crooked due to surrounding gum tissue growing down over a large portion of a tooth. However, if you have a medical reason for gingivoplasty, you can also use gingivectomy, which is very similar and used for similar purposes.