What Is A Gummy Smile?

So, why do some people have gummy smiles? Well; it could be caused by your gums covering more tooth area than it should, making your teeth look too short - or it could be caused by a high lip line, meaning that, when you smile, your upper lip pulls up higher than that of the average person.

Patients generally come to me as a periodontist to correct this for aesthetic reasons, but a good periodontist should also check if you have an improper bite. The reason for this is that, if your gummy smile is a result of how your teeth erupted and/or how your jawbone developed, these could impact on your long term oral health.

There are 3 different surgical procedures to correct a gummy smile, depending on the cause in your particular case. Once we have ascertained what caused your problem, you will only need a local anesthetic and you will not feel any pain during any of the procedures.

If you only have too much gum covering your crowns or teeth, a simple surgical sculpting procedure called gingivectomy or gingivoplasty will suffice. During this procedure I remove excess gum tissue and perhaps a little bone so that more tooth surface is exposed and the gum line is more even. It is a minimally invasive procedure so I will often place a periodontal dressing over the teeth and gums to protect them.

When it is evident that I will have to expose and remove some underlying tooth bone too, I will opt for flap surgery. This procedure will be chosen if your teeth are naturally short, are quite worn or the bone right under the top of the gums is thick. I will then cut the gum open, do what needs to be done, put some stitches in to ensure it heals perfectly and you will also need a periodontal dressing. This procedure involves a little more pain than with a gingivectomy.

If the cause of your gummy smile is a high lip line when you smile, I might suggest hypermobile lip surgery if I think it will help. Local anesthetic is used and I simply re-attach some gum tissue to your lip at a level closer to the teeth.

At Anthem Periodontics and Dental Implants, we will look at YOUR individual needs and only do those procedures necessary to give you a great smile!

Sedation Dentistry in Las Vegas

What Is Sedation Dentistry?

The thought of visiting the dentist fills some people with a sense of dread. Our practice wants to help you avoid this uncomfortable feeling, so we make sure to ask every person who walks through our doors if dental anxiety is an issue for them. If so, we offer them the option of sedation dentistry.
Anthem Periodontics is certified in the state of Nevada to sedate patients who have a fear of visiting the dentist. Before the dental procedure begins, those who choose this option receive sedatives, gases or an IV treatment that puts them to sleep. The benefits of opting to be sedated are many, and they include the following: • Patients are relieved of anxiety before their procedures begin • They are unaware of what is occurring while the procedure is being done • After their treatments are over, they don’t remember what happened • People stop avoiding dental visits and are able to maintain their oral health

The Two Types of Sedation Dentistry

At Anthem Periodontics, Dr. De Andrade offers his patients these two different types of sedation dentistry:
1. Oral Sedation – Also known as “twilight sleep,” oral sedation helps to relax anxious patients so that their dental treatments can be completed in the least amount of time possible. If you choose oral sedation, you will receive medication that we will monitor from the beginning of your visit until after the treatment is over as if we were giving you medication by way of an IV.
2. IV Sedation - This second option puts you to sleep
Whether you choose oral sedation or IV sedation, you will need to have someone drive you home and care for you for a period of time after the procedure is over. Sedation dentistry has been an important advancement in dentistry as a whole because more people are making appointments to see their dentists on a regular basis. Since you will be sedated before anything else happens, you won’t experience any of the unpleasant sensations that you remember from previous dental visits, including the needle that administers local anesthesia. At Anthem Periodontics, you will have the option of taking anti-anxiety drugs that relieve you of the unpleasant feelings you experience before dental procedures, but you will remain awake during your treatment. If you prefer not to be awake during the process, you can also choose to be put to sleep during the procedure. For this option, Amber our certified anesthesiologist will help you fall asleep and monitor you during the entire procedure.