Could you benefit from gum surgery? Our Norcross, GA, dentist, Dr. Orson Baek of Smart Family Dental Care, explains how the surgery gum diseasecan enhance your appearance or improve the health of your gums.

Cosmetic gum surgery is the ideal treatment for a gummy smile

Are your gums in full view when you smile? Gummy smiles can occur for a variety of reasons. The condition often runs in families, but may also occur if your teeth haven't erupted normally or if you've worn away your tooth enamel by grinding your teeth while you sleep. If the upper portions of your teeth are covered by gum tissue or your gums are uneven, you may want to consider gum surgery to remove the excess tissue. The surgery not only eliminates extra gum tissue, but also contours and reshapes it to improve the appearance of your smile.

Gum grafts offer a solution for receding gums

Receding gums make your teeth look longer and expose the sensitive roots. Luckily, gum graft surgery can restore your natural gum line and protect your roots. During gum graft surgery, a small amount of tissue is removed from the roof of your mouth or obtained from a tissue bank, then sewn in place over your gums. If gum disease is the cause of your receding gums, the disease must be successfully treated in our Norcross office before you can receive gum grafts.

Gum surgery restores the health of gums damaged by gum disease

Removing the bacteria, tartar and plaque below your gum line is crucial to treating gum disease. Although gum disease treatment used to involve cutting the gums with a scalpel, today it's often possible to perform the surgery with lasers. Laser light not only removes diseased gum tissue, but also attacks the bacteria responsible for the disease. You won't need any stitches after laser gum surgery and will enjoy a shorter recovery period. In fact, most people return to their normal activities just 24 hours after the procedure.

Gum surgery offers an effective way to treat both cosmetic issues and gum disease. Call our Norcross, GA, dentist, Dr. Baek of Smart Family Dental Care, at (770) 446-5700 to schedule an appointment to discuss the best treatment for your gums.