Not happy with your smile due to your gums? You can fix this problem with a gum lift procedure. The technical name is a gingivectomy, and the purpose is to reshape the gumline in a way that removes any extra tissue. The end result is gums that are more pleasing to look at and can boost your confidence. If you're considering the procedure be aware of these 3 things.

What's Are Gum Lifts?

Gum lifts only work if they can expose a lot more of the surface area of the teeth. It is ideal for people that feel they have teeth that look kind of short, which causes them to feel self-conscious. The procedure itself is minimally invasive, which means the recovery time should be minimal as well. Many people fear cosmetic procedures because they don't want the down time to recover from it, but you'll be back to eating all your favorite foods in no time.

Gum lifts can be performed along with other dental procedures. For instance, if you are planning on having dental veneers installed, know that a gum lift can be done along with it. If you are having a crown place on one of your teeth, the gum lift procedure can be used to hide the bottom portion of the crown.

How Are Gum Lifts Performed?

The gum lift process is much different than how it used to be. The process use to involve cutting the gums and stitching them back together. These days the procedure uses laser to cut away the excessive tissue, and will prevent the gums from bleeding excessively during the procedure.

What Will The Recovery Process Be Like?

The recovery process from a gum lift could take a couple days or it could take weeks for a full recovery. Your dentist will give you a prescription for an antibiotic to take right after the surgery, which will prevent you from getting an infection. You'll also receive painkillers to deal with the discomfort in the gums afterwards.

You'll be limited to the type of foods that you eat right after the procedure, so load up on yogurt, ice cream, cottage cheese, and vegetables to eat after the procedure. You'll receive specific instructions for oral care following the procedure, which includes how you should be brushing your teeth to protect your gums as they heal.

Reach out to a local cosmetic dentist, such as Davis R Troup DDS PA, for more info about gum lifts.