Everyone has heard of a facelift before but how many of you have heard of a gum lift? The gum lift is a cosmetic dentistry treatment that “lifts” or removes excessive gum tissue from people who feel they show a little too much gum when they smile. The treatment isn’t just cosmetic, as levelling the gums can also help you to keep them clean, reducing the risk of gum disease in the future. Most patients considering a gum lift, though, are not thinking about oral hygiene but about how embarrassed they are by their “gummy” smile, especially, if the gums are uneven or receding. Luckily, the gum lift is a straightforward procedure that can help you smile with confidence again.

After your initial consultation, you can decide whether to go ahead with the treatment or not. In some cases, a gum lift may not be enough to create the effect the patient is looking for and the dentist may also need to shorten or file down troublesome teeth that are getting in the way of the perfect smile. This is not a common occurrence, however, and most of the time both dentist and patient will be happy with the results achieved by the gum lift.

Unlike a facelift, the gum lift is not an invasive procedure and you will only need a local anaesthetic. A special laser is used to trim the areas of gum that the patient or dentist are unhappy with, either because of their aesthetic effects or because the gums have already been damaged by gum disease. The patient may notice some slight discomfort once the anaesthetic has worn off and the gums will be a little swollen for a few days. Once this has subsided, you will be able to see the difference in your smile immediately.

If you decide that a gum lift is the best way for you to be able to smile with confidence then you are in good company. Celebrities such as Demi Moore and Ben Affleck are reported to have had the procedure done when it first became popular in Hollywood.