Gum Aesthetics

An aesthetic smile is not only achieved through white and well-aligned teeth. It also requires gums that harmonize with the teeth. The aesthetic procedures performed on the gums are referred to as pink aesthetics.

The health, color, and level of the gums complete the overall dental esthetics. Ensuring the harmony of teeth and gums is the first step to achieving a pleasing, harmonious, and clean smile. Healthy gums are pale pink in color, firmly attached to the tooth and bone, and have a shiny but orange peel-like (slightly stippled) appearance. Asymmetric gum lines give the impression that our teeth are irregular and our smile line is crooked.

If our gums have receded, our teeth appear longer than normal. It is possible to correct this issue with gum aesthetic procedures. In the field of cosmetic dentistry, the aim is to achieve a perfect smile. Gum aesthetics is extremely important in obtaining what could be termed a flawless smile.

Before undertaking any cosmetic procedures on the gums, the gums must be healthy. Healthy gums have a pink hue, a slightly stippled surface, and no bleeding. If the gums are swollen, red, and bleed, these issues must be addressed before any cosmetic treatment. Procedures like removing tartar (scaling) or gum curettage may be necessary.

Gingivoplasty: When the gum tissue excessively covers the teeth, the teeth can look very short in the mouth. This condition is called “gummy smile,” and it negatively affects aesthetics. Excessive or asymmetrically positioned gum tissue can be corrected with a minor operation called gingivoplasty.

Under local anesthesia, the necessary adjustments can be made to the gums without the patient feeling anything. If needed, full porcelain laminates or metal-free zirconium porcelain restorations can be applied afterward, achieving aesthetic results beyond expectations.

Gingivectomy: This procedure involves removing excess gum tissue in cases of gum overgrowth or deep pockets. Afterward, the gum contours are corrected as needed, giving the gums a proper, physiologically healthy form and restoring an aesthetic appearance.

Crown Lengthening: If there is significant loss of tooth structure or if a cavity extends below the gum line, crown lengthening is performed by removing excess gum tissue and reshaping the bone. As a result, the teeth take on a longer appearance.

Regeneration: Regenerative procedures are aimed at restoring the supporting tissues destroyed by periodontal disease by triggering the body’s natural healing mechanisms. When conditions are suitable, diseased tissues are removed, and new support structures are formed using membranes, bone grafts, or tissue-stimulating proteins.

Soft Tissue Grafting: Gum recession causes the root surfaces to become exposed. This can make the teeth appear longer in terms of pink esthetics, and the exposed root surfaces become sensitive to hot and cold foods and beverages. Various factors, such as aggressive brushing, harmful habits (nail biting, chewing on pens, etc.), prosthetics, orthodontic appliances, aging, and periodontal diseases, can cause gum recession.

During treatment, first, the cause of the problem should be identified and controlled or eliminated, if possible. Soft tissue grafts are used to cover the exposed root surfaces or to increase the gum tissue lost due to recession. This application also reduces the risk of further gum recession and bone loss. Covering exposed root surfaces prevents cavities in that area and improves the overall appearance.

In soft tissue grafting procedures, gum tissue taken from the palate or another donor area in the mouth is used as a “graft.”