Gingivectomy & Gingivoplasty

Within periodontic treatments, there are many existing techniques. These techniques include surgical interventions that seek to repair, maintain and support dental support tissues so that the oral cavity in general, and the teeth in particular, have the healthy appearance of a healthy mouth.

Two of these interventions are gingivectomy and gingivoplasty, which usually confuse because their differences are not very well known by the majority of patients. In this article, we are going to unravel this topic and discuss each dental procedure with its purpose and objectives.

Gingivectomy

What is gingivectomy?

Gingivectomy is periodontal surgery that focuses on the gums. It consists of the elimination of gingival tissue with the purpose of eliminating or reducing periodontal pockets when the bone is not affected. Excision and removal of the injured gingival tissue is performed. Local anesthesia is used for this intervention.

How to proceed in gingivectomy?

Once the anesthesia has been applied, a probe is used to locate each periodontal pocket. They are analyzed to determine how deep they are and are marked.
A first incision is made up to the mark, but without exposing the supporting bone. A second incision is made to separate the diseased tissues and they are extracted with great care, removing everything until the root is completely clean. For this, various instruments are used that remove all the tissue and leave the surface of the tooth smooth and visible.

The treated area is then covered with periodontal cement that facilitates healing. This usually lasts between one and two weeks. The fabric is completely repaired in approximately two months.

What is gingivectomy used for?

This periodontal surgery is commonly used to treat patients who have inflammation of the gums that causes tissue growth. It may also be necessary for those who have undergone a root canal and have an enlarged periodontal pocket.

Contraindications and side effects

Complications can occur in those cases in which the gum is too scarce, when the bags have reached the mucosa or when it is seen that bone surgery is necessary. In these cases, this type of intervention would not be recommended.

We can find some immediate adverse effects, such as tears in the healthy tissue or the nerves near the gums that cause injuries. There may also be complications sometime later, such as infection, bleeding, or a more general health problem.

Advantages and disadvantages

Gingivectomy is a simple procedure that has predictable results. It has good healing and offers an obvious aesthetic improvement.
However, with a somewhat painful recovery in the short term, the aesthetic effects will not be seen immediately. The risk of the bone being exposed or the gum being lost can cause tooth sensitivity and, as we have said, subsequent bleeding can occur.

Gingivoplasty

Gingivoplasty is a simple procedure, performed under local anesthesia, the main goal is to reshape the gums, with the aim of improving the contour without altering the height.

Gingivoplasty is a simple procedure to solve the gummy smile, performed under local anesthesia, to reshape the gums, to improve the contour without altering the height. Gingivoplasty is generally performed in conjunction with a gingivectomy for cosmetic reasons or as part of a treatment for periodontitis.

What is gingivoplasty ?

Gingivoplasty is a periodontal surgery very similar to gingivectomy, although its objective is different. In this case, what the practitioner wants is to restore the contour of the gum when the periodontal pocket has been lost. On many occasions, this intervention is done in a complementary way and simultaneously with the previous one.

How to proceed in a gingivoplasty?

Gingivoplasty is performed with a scalpel manually, with mechanical means, or with electrodes, depending on the needs of each patient.

The first step is to polish the edges of the gums to give them the desired shape. Later the margins are contoured to reduce the size of the gum and leave more tooth surface in view, which leads to aesthetic purposes. Finally, the teeth are finished shaping so that they have the desired appearance.

Effects of gingivoplasty?

This periodontal operation has a clear aesthetic objective. The result is a more aesthetic smile due to the correction of the size of the gums, which sometimes look too much when smiling. The gingivoplasty manages to give a greater luminosity and a cleaner effect to the teeth.

Before having periodontal surgery?

To undergo this type of surgery it is necessary for a professional to assess each case in particular,and give a diagnosis in this regard.

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