Metal Mouth Message Board

So i was wondering if anyone here has had a gingivectomy..which is also called gum reshaping, and if so how did it go, and maybe you could post some before and after pictures. i am wondering because i am seriously considering getting a minor gingivectomy before i get my braces off for asthetic (sp?) reasons. although i dont have a major gum issue, ever since all my spaces have closed, the gums between like are like coming over them, especially my two front teeth. well this turned into a ramble. sorry! hopefully i will get some replies for once HAHA. bye for noww

I underwent gingivectomy 2 weeks before the braces. My periodontist said there was some extra gum at the bottom front teeth, which (i) was not aesthetic, and (ii) would encourage plaque and weaken gum health.

It took only 10 minutes for him to apply some local anasthesia and then trim the extra tissue. Healing lasted one day only!

Periodontist will know better about gum health but I can say It definitely bettered the looks with teeth not anymore hiding in that extra gum anymore

Thanks for telling me! did the procedure hurt at all or what? and thats good that healing time is only one day! thank you so much!

It did not hurt because of anasthesia. Healing time depends on how much tissue is removed. For me, it was only one day because only small portion of tissue was removed. And then you just have to brush gently on that area for few days until that area of gum recovers to normal.

So, It is a simple treatment with no complexities involved. Good luck!

I think this is the same thing that my ortho was talking about for me. But he wouldn't be cutting off gum, he'd be reshaping it because it doesn't come down in a V like the other side. He said he'd have to wait until it was time to get my braces off and then they would see if the gum had reshaped itself, but I have a gap in the front of my mouth because the gum does not come down far enough. They also might try doing a filling there instead of doing gum reshaping. Does anyone know how much it costs to have gum reshaping done? I've already put so much money into my braces...my hubby would cringe if I had to pay more. Oh well..it's my mouth.

When I had braces for the first time it was to close up gaps, and my gums swelled up BIG time, but about a week after my braces came off they were completely back to normal. So you might want to wait a week or so and see what happens.

My dentist reshaped my lower, front gums about 6 months ago. It sounds like your gums are similar to mine, more V shaped than U shaped. He used a laser to do it and it was no big deal. He numbed the area a little so I didn't feel anything. The healing took about a day and a half and just felt like when you burn your tongue with hot cofee or tea.

The worst part about it was the smell. The laser burns the gums and causes a burning flesh smell - ick!

Oh yeah! Burning flesh! The things we do to make ourselves look good..LOL