Gingival Soft tissue management

Defects or excessive muscle pull in the soft tissue surrounding the teeth may require management.

At Cape Periodontal Specialists, we offer the following range of soft tissue treatments:

Soft tissue grafting procedures to manage recession defects: Gum recession is when your gum line moves down and exposes your tooth roots. Gum grafts can increase the amount of hard gum line around your tooth or partially cover the tooth surface where existing gum line was lost. During gum graft surgery, we take gum tissue from your palate or another donor source to cover the exposed root.

Frenectomies: In the oral cavity, muscle bands called frenum are located in and around the teeth and gums. If the muscle pull is too excessive leading to a receding gum line or limiting oral function, then a procedure called a frenectomy is used to solve the problem. During a frenectomy, the frenum is reduced in size with a scalpel (blade) or a laser made specifically to cut soft tissue.

Crown lengthening procedures: If you have a ‘gummy smile’ and teeth that appear too short, then this procedure may be suited to you. Your teeth may actually be the proper length, but they may be covered with too much gum tissue, making them appear shorter. To correct this, we perform a dental crown lengthening procedure, where the excess bone and gum tissue is reshaped to reveal more of the tooth.

Vestibuloplasty procedures: Vestibuloplasty is often performed before the placement of a dental appliance. The procedure deepens the vestibule of your mouth — the area between your teeth and cheeks. Deepening the vestibule provides more space and surface area and for dentures or implants and makes it easier to maintain good hygiene around the replacement teeth.

Management of gingival overgrowth/enlargement: Gingival hyperplasia is an overgrowth of gum tissue around the teeth. The treatment of gingival hyperplasia depends on the underlying cause. In some cases, improved oral hygiene can improve or prevent symptoms, and resolve the condition. However, if gum overgrowth is a product of disease or medication, we may recommend surgery.