If you are unhappy with the appearance of your “gummy smile” or “short teeth”, this can be improved with cosmetic periodontal surgery.

Your teeth may be the proper length, but they may be covered with too much gum tissue. Dr Rosenberg and his associates perform advanced cosmetic procedures by reshaping the gum and supporting tissues. This can be done to more than one tooth, to even your gum line, and to create a beautiful smile. We also work closely with your Dentist and Advanced Dental Technician to digitally design your smile so you can appreciate the final result before we even start treatment.

When there is minor recession, often there is still a small amount of keratinized tissue (thick firm tissue as it contains keratin) that remains and protects the tooth, and no treatment other than modifying home care practice is necessary. However, when recession reaches the lining mucosa (less resistant and weaker as it does not have any keratin),then it can become unstable and recede quickly. Often it is more uncomfortable to brush and keep the area clean. We tend to avoid these areas which may result in further deterioration of the gingival tissues. In addition, gum recession can result in root sensitivity to hot and cold foods as well as an unsightly appearance of the gum and tooth ( as the tooth appears longer). Exposed root surfaces are softer than enamel and can lead to root caries and root gouging.

A gingival graft is designed to solve these problems. A thin piece of tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth or gently moved over from adjacent areas to provide a stable band of attached gingiva around the tooth. The gingival graft may be placed in such a way as to cover the exposed portion of the root.