What is gingivectomy and gingivoplasty?
Gingivectomy is the surgical removal of gum tissue or gingiva. Gingivoplasty is the surgical reshaping of gum tissue around the teeth. Both of these procedures are performed by periodontists. These are dentists who specialize in treating gums and other supporting structures of your teeth.
What is the use of gingivectomy and gingivoplasty?
Gingivectomy was initially developed for treating periodontal disease. Nowadays, gingivectomy is more often used for cosmetic purposes. You may need to remove gum tissue for two reasons
- Gaps or pockets have formed between the teeth. These pockets can trap food particles and will eventually harbour colonies of bacteria. These areas are difficult to clean. If the pockets are made up of soft tissue then they can be removed by trimming the gums in a gingivectomy procedure
- There is too much gum tissue surrounding the teeth. Aside from aesthetic reasons, these areas are difficult to clean. In more serious situations, the situation can interfere with your chewing and your speech. Overgrown gum tissues may be caused by certain drugs like anti-seizure medications. Sometimes there is no apparent cause
When your gums are reshaped through gingivoplasty, they can look more natural. The procedure is used to correct malformed or asymmetrical gums. These unappealing characteristics may have been caused by your genes, a disease, or a trauma. Gingivoplasty can be done alone but is usually performed after a gingivectomy or a gum graft. A gum graft adds tissue to the gum lines.
How do you prepare for a gingivectomy or a gingivoplasty?
Before a gingivectomy or gingivoplasty, you will have to talk to your periodontist. You will discuss matters like your oral hygiene habits, risks involved in the procedure, and maybe some pre-operation procedures that have to be done. Before getting a gingivectomy or a gingivoplasty, you will go through cleaning and maybe root planing so that all tartar and calculus is removed.
How is the gingivectomy or gingivoplasty done?
Gingivectomies or gingivoplasties are usually performed with scalpels but they can also be done using electrosurgery units, lasers, or diamond dental burs. Your periodontist could also use specialized instruments designed for gingivectomies. Angled blades that enable periodontists to work around the teeth may be used.
Before any of these procedures, you will get local anaesthetic injections to numb your gums. A gingivectomy may take a few minutes or up to an hour, depending on how much tissue will be worked on. Gingivoplasties are typically done in a few minutes only.
What happens after a gingivoplasty or gingivectomy?
After a gingivoplasty or gingivectomy, a type of bandage called a periodontal dressing will be put on your gums. This will be left in place for about a week or two. You may have to avoid spicy foods and maintain a soft diet during this period. Your dentist will also give you prescription painkillers and chlorexidine mouthwash.
It is important to keep your mouth clean while you heal. You will not be allowed to brush your teeth in the surgical area while the pack is still in place. For the rest of the mouth, you will be able to brush and floss normally. When the pack is removed, you will be able to brush and floss normally although you should do it gently for the first month. It is normal for the healing tissues to bleed when you floss or brush right after the dressing is removed.
After a week or two, you must return to your periodontist to have the pack removed. Your gums will start to look normal after three to four weeks but it may take two to three months for the tissues to heal completely.
What are the risks associated with gingivoplasty or gingivectomy?
There are no major risks to this procedure and infections are very rare. It is possible for your gums to bleed but again, this is also rare. For the first two days, some blood may ooze out but after that, there won't be a lot of bleeding anymore.
When should you call a professional?
You must contact your periodontist if
- the bleeding does not stop
- you experience excessive pain and it can not be alleviated by the prescribed painkillers. People will have different thresholds for pain but gingivectomy isn't known to cause a lot of pain anyway
- there is a possibility of getting an infection in the operated area
- there is excessive swelling or discharge from the surgical area
- the periodontal dressing becomes loose or gets displaced
- the lymph nodes under your lower jaw or in your neck become swollen