Gum tissue can deteriorate or become otherwise damaged due to genetic factors, gum disease or poor oral hygiene habits. This weakens the gums, which can alter the appearance of your smile. Cosmetic gum surgery is a treatment often used in conjunction with other methods of tooth correction such as veneers, bonding or crowns. The surgery focuses specifically on limiting or expanding the amount of visible gum around the teeth to improve the aesthetics of your smile.

The problems regularly fixed by cosmetic gum surgery include:

• A ‘gummy smile’
• Gum recession or ‘long teeth’
• Jagged gum line
• Gum loss
• Gums that appear to be collapsing

Problems with pre-existing cosmetic treatments, such as dental bridges, implants or crowns, can lead to dark patches on the gums. These can also be corrected with surgery.

Cosmetic gum surgery in London usually falls into two categories depending on the patient’s current smile.

The gummy smile, known technically as excessive gingival display, involves teeth that seem small in comparison to overextend gums. This can arise due to gradual wear of the teeth from grinding or decay, or as a result of natural factors like long upper jawbone or short upper lip. The surgery in this case reduces excess gum tissue and any unnecessary bone in order to create a regular gum line and extend the visible surface of the teeth to a more natural looking length. This is accomplished with a laser and antibacterial mouthwash is prescribed in the weeks after surgery.

A long tooth smile, or gum recession, results in teeth that appear abnormally long, with less gum showing than usual. Not only can this affect the smile and self-confidence, but gum recession can also cause heightened root sensitivity and can even lead to tooth loss over time. The sensitivity is increased by revealing the root surface, which should be covered by the gums. Surgery for gum recession involves taking tissue from the roof of the mouth and grafting it onto the gum line for reinforcement of thin gums and to bulk up receded gums. This treatment has advanced in recent years, both in terms of aesthetics and comfort.