Laser Gingivectomy Oklahoma City
Improve Your Gum Health & Enhance Your Smile
Your gums should be a subtle frame for your teeth; their job is to protect your tooth roots. But you can have too much of a good thing! When the gum tissue is overgrown, it is more likely to collect harmful bacteria and lead to gum disease; it can also affect the aesthetics of your smile. Our Oklahoma City interceptive orthodontics team is ready to help via a laser gingivectomy, which may also be called gum recontouring. Continue reading below to learn more, or contact us directly to set up your consultation.
Why Choose Casady Square Orthodontics for a Laser Gingivectomy?
- Highly Trained Orthodontic Specialist
- Laser Technology Makes for Treatment Easier
- Improve Your Long-Term Oral Health
What Is a Laser Gingivectomy?
A gingivectomy is a minor surgical procedure during which we remove excess gum tissue with the goal of improving function, removing diseased tissue, and reducing the depth of periodontal pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums where bacteria tend to accumulate).
A gingivectomy has the primary purpose of supporting oral health, though it is often performed at the same time as gingivoplasty, which emphasizes aesthetics. Both gingivectomy and gingivoplasty procedures are types of gum recontouring.
Gingivectomies can be performed with traditional tools, such as scalpels. However, our team uses a soft tissue laser to make the process easier and more precise.
The Laser Gingivectomy Process
To start your laser gingivectomy, we will numb your mouth so you are comfortable. Then, Dr. Ishani will use an advanced soft tissue laser to work on your gums. The laser is an incredibly precise tool, so you can expect that no more gum tissue than necessary will be removed. The laser also cauterizes as it moves, so there should be little to no bleeding. Often, there is no need for stitches, either.
The entire process may take 1 – 2 hours.
What to Expect After a Laser Gingivectomy
The laser’s precise and minimally invasive nature will help you to enjoy a smooth and easy recovery process. In fact, healing from a laser gingivectomy is generally much more comfortable than recovering from surgeries performed with traditional instruments!
Still, you can expect your mouth to be sore for a time. Eating soft foods, being careful with your oral hygiene routine, and following other post-op instructions will minimize the risk of complications and support your body’s natural healing processes. Most patients go back to work or school within just 1 - 2 days, with full healing requiring 1 – 2 weeks.
After you heal, you can move forward with other needed procedures. For example, a gingivectomy is sometimes needed before or during treatment with braces.