The ideal results of cosmetic gum surgery depend on whether the procedure is correcting an uneven, excess gum line or a mouth with receding gums and exposed roots, otherwise known as the "gummy smile" and the "long tooth" mouths, respectively.
Gummy Smile
The gummy smile is largely the result of the gums being too long. The teeth may appear uneven in size or they may together appear too short due to an overgrowth of gum. A dentist or medical professional will use a laser or other instrument to shave away at the gum and possibly some of the jaw bone if it's overgrown. This will lengthen and even out the appearance of the patient's teeth.
Long Tooth
The long tooth mouth may be the result of genetics, or the gums may have receded with age, disease or infection. In either case, the teeth's roots may be exposed in an uneven, unattractive fashion. This also puts patients at greater risk for further infection and decay and makes the mouth more sensitive to temperature. With this version of the cosmetic gum surgery, the medical professional will transplant tissue from the roof of the mouth to the gum line; both the taken tissue area and the new gum line will heal over time for more even, less exposed teeth.
Although there are two categorically different types of cosmetic gum surgery, the basics of the ideal results are the same: attractive gums and a more even-toothed smile. Gum surgery can correct damage from gum disease and infection, as well as imperfections from birth, to give the patient a more confident smile.
