I use the gingivectomy procedure to treat periodontal disease and the overgrowth of gum tissue. Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, i.e. braces, experience a higher risk of this overgrown gum tissue as a result of chronic gum inflammation. Medically deemed “gingival hyperplasia,” this inflammation can be attributed to their bodies’ reaction to fixed oral appliances and decreased oral hygiene. This lack of oral hygiene compliance, or decreased ability to successfully clean the teeth and gums resulting from braces, perpetuates contamination of the root surface due to plaque and calculus and results in swollen gum tissue.
In some cases, this gum tissue swelling, also known as “gingival enlargement,” that is seen in orthodontic patients interferes not only aesthetically, but it also decreases the functionality of orthodontic treatment. Also, excess tissue can cause the teeth to shift after braces have been removed. Extreme gingival enlargement necessitates periodontal treatment, typically through a gingivectomy procedure.
To reverse the effects of gingival enlargement, I utilize internal or external bevel gingivectomy protocols. Both procedures are used to successfully remove hypertrophic (excessively enlarged) gingival tissue and increase crown length. However, the external bevel gingivectomy, used in cases of abnormally dense overgrowth of gingiva, is a more aggressive treatment involving a full removal of the enlarged tissue.
On the other hand, I perform the internal bevel gingivectomy on patients who do not require such intense removal of excess tissue. For this procedure, I make a flap to elevate the tissue, incise the tissue to remove the inflamed and enlarged gingiva, then suture the gum back down. The laser technology we have now incorporated at North Raleigh Periodontics can be used in these procedures to facilitate the removal of excess tissue in a more rapid and painless fashion.
Poor oral hygiene threatens the vitality of the teeth and gums. For orthodontic patients, it also interferes with successful orthodontic treatment. Once the inflammation of the gum tissue causes gingival hyperplasia, removal of the overgrowth is usually the only successful treatment method. I perform internal and external bevel gingivectomies to remove this overgrown tissue, facilitate better plaque control, and maintain healthy periodontium, all of which promote orthodontic treatment progress.
For further information or to request an appointment, please call us at (919)518-8222.