Gum laser surgery, also known as a gum lift, is a modern and minimally invasive option to treat gum disease and improve overall gum health. Growing in popularity, particularly in cosmetic dentistry, more and more people are exploring the option of gum lifts to improve the aesthetics of their smile.

I remember when I first started in the dentistry field around 8 years ago. In that period, we would have the occasional patient come in for treatment options to correct their gummy smile. Other patients didn’t even know they had a gummy smile or uneven gum line. In that period, we would manually surgically remove the excess gum with very precise and thorough measurement and planning. These days, it is simply removed with a special laser resulting in shorter downtime and a more seamless recovery. 

Here, our lovely patient shows off her smile makeover results after coming to us to address a gummy smile. She selected a combination of gum laser surgery and veneers to accomplish her smile goals. 

With Gum Laser Surgery growing in popularity as well as more social media presence with individuals becoming more aware of their aesthetics, the art of gum laser surgery has definitely been perfected over the years. 

Unlike traditional methods that involve cutting and suturing, gum laser surgery utilizes focused laser to remove infected or inflamed gum tissue while promoting the regeneration of healthy tissue. This approach offers several advantages, including reduced discomfort, faster healing times, and enhanced precision.

Before recommending gum laser surgery, your dentist or periodontist will conduct a thorough examination of your gums to assess the extent of gum disease. X-rays and other diagnostic tools may be used to determine the severity of the condition.

To ensure your comfort during the procedure, a local anesthetic will be administered to numb the area being treated. This helps prevent any pain or discomfort during the surgery.

A specialised dental laser is used for the surgery. The laser emits concentrated energy in the form of light, which is targeted at the infected gum tissue. The energy from the laser effectively removes the diseased tissue while sealing blood vessels and nerve endings to minimize bleeding and discomfort.

The focused laser energy gently vaporizes the infected gum tissue. This process is precise and minimally invasive, sparing healthy tissue and promoting faster healing.

Step 5: Scaling and Root Planing (if needed)

After removing the infected tissue, the dentist may perform scaling and root planing. This involves removing tartar and plaque buildup from the tooth roots and smoothing the root surfaces to prevent further bacterial growth.

The laser energy stimulates the regrowth of healthy gum tissue and aids in the reattachment of the gum to the teeth. This regeneration process helps form a tight seal that reduces the depth of gum pockets and prevents reinfection.

As the laser treatment promotes sealing and clotting, sutures are usually not required. The recovery period is typically shorter compared to traditional gum surgery, with many patients experiencing minimal discomfort.

There are several advantages to gum lifts for your smile goals:

Minimally invasive: Laser surgery is less traumatic to the gums compared to traditional methods.

Reduced bleeding and discomfort: Laser energy seals blood vessels and nerve endings, leading to less bleeding and post-operative pain.

Faster healing: The targeted approach encourages faster tissue regeneration and healing.

Precise treatment: Laser technology allows for precision in targeting infected tissue while sparing healthy areas.

Minimal downtime: Patients often resume normal activities shortly after the procedure.

Gum laser surgery is a groundbreaking approach to treating gum disease that offers numerous benefits for patients seeking effective and minimally invasive treatment. By understanding the procedure, recovery process, and advantages it offers, individuals can make informed decisions about their oral health and well-being.

Remember, if you're considering gum laser surgery, consult a qualified dentist who can evaluate your condition and provide personalized guidance. Your journey toward improved gum health starts with a thorough consultation and a trusted dental professional by your side.

Everything you need to know about the procedure

What is a gum lift or gum laser surgery?

A gummy smile is a common dental concern that we see often in our day to day operations. Sometimes this can vary from one tooth to an entire smile. The good news is that there are various available treatment options to address this. Here is a guide to some of the most popular ways to treat a gummy smile:

For people who want to correct their gummy smile using the least invasive means, muscle relaxant injections are a good starting point. With this procedure, the relaxant is injected into the muscles that elevate the top lip. The amount of gum shown when you smile is diminished by relaxing these muscles. Injections of muscle relaxants, can last for up to three to four months, and the operation itself is quick. It is a good short term solution that will require maintenance and continuous, on-going treatments. 

The excess gum tissue is removed during a cosmetic dental surgery known as gum contouring, often referred to as gum reshaping, gum lifting or gum laser surgery.  In order to have a more proportionate smile, this surgery entails cutting the gums either manually or with a laser. Traditional surgical techniques or laser therapy can both be used to complete the process. It usually takes an hour or two depending on how many teeth are involved and is done under local anesthetic.

If the condition at the root of your gummy smile requires treatment, braces or Invisalign may be required. The purpose of this procedure is to realign the jaw and realign the teeth. Depending on how severe the condition is, orthodontic treatment can last anywhere from a few months to a few years in duration. Further gum laser surgery is sometimes used in conjunction with this treatment if required.

Porcelain or composite veneers can be used in conjunction with the treatments above to achieve a precise aesthetic result. Patients typically choose veneers to address multiple smile concerns (such as a smile that is gummy and canted). We compare the differences between composite and porcelain veneers in a comprehensive showdown here! 

Though we may feel conscious of the aesthetics of our gummy smile, looking at treatment options is a personal choice that is unique to every individual. Some hate it, some embrace it. We believe all smiles are beautiful and respect the choices of our patients. If your gummy smile does concern you, know that it is treatable. Your preferred course of therapy will depend on your particular preferences, oral health, and how severe your gummy smile is. The best course of action is to speak with one of our trained and experienced dentists, who can assess your smile and suggest the best course of action for you. 

A guide to treatment options: from injections to gum lifts to veneers

How to fix your gummy smile

Many patients with a canted smile come to us utterly perplexed by their smile. They may already have healthy, pearly whites but often still say they hate smiling in photos and they’re not sure why -  something just seems off! Eventually, they finally work out the culprit - their smile is canted. Let's find out what a canted smile is, what causes a canted smile, and what the potential treatments look like, including a case study of one of our own treatments at Vogue Dental Studios. 

To put it simply, a canted smile is a smile that is tilted or slanted. In other words, a smile that is not level with the rest of the face, instead creating a diagonal line, rather than a straight one.

Dr. Halligan has a neat trick to confirm whether the frontal occlusal plane (Your smile from the front!) is canted. Just bite a tongue depressor (It's just a popsicle stick!) lengthwise.  It should be a straight line, parallel to your lips, eyes and ears. Now, mind you, even a straight smile might be just a little bit slanted here. But if you have a canted smile, the tilt angle should be fairly obvious with this test. (1) Of course, this is only a quick and easy rule of thumb. The best way to determine if you have a canted smile is to seek an examination with a qualified professional. 

In our experience, most patients with canted smiles come to us with cosmetic concerns only. However, depending on what the fundamental cause is, a canted smile can introduce functional problems like tooth wear, difficulty with tooth eruption, and skeletal developmental problems. (2)

That leads us to the potential causes of a canted smile. There are a few factors that can produce or contribute to a canted smile. Without understanding the underlying factors, it is impossible to know the most suitable treatment. An important point to keep in mind is that it could also be a combination of factors.

Common forms of malocclusion include overbite, crossbite, and overjet. All of these mean that your jaw is not properly aligned, which can affect the symmetry of your smile line, potentially leading to a canted smile. (3)

Other forms of malocclusion result from individual misalignment of certain teeth. In some circumstances, their misalignment leads to visual asymmetry, such as uneven teeth lengths. (3)

How much your teeth appear in your smile is, of course, affected by a commonly ignored factor - your gums! As our teeth grow, the gums naturally recede to reveal the smile. If a part of your gums has receded less than others, it can lead to the appearance of a canted smile, even if your teeth are aligned.

Injuries, especially childhood ones, to your teeth, gums, or lips will affect the appearance of your smile. Heavy grinding is also a possible culprit. If any of these factors affect a part of your smile more than other parts, they could lead to a canted smile.

Since a canted smile can develop through a combination of factors, very often a combination of treatments is required as well. As always, the best way to find out which treatment is suitable for you is to consult a qualified health professional. 

Also called gum lift or gum contouring. You guessed it! - This one is best suited to address an uneven gum line. Gum laser surgery uses a soft diode laser to reshape the gum line, revealing more of the teeth. There is a limit to how much can be revealed safely. It's best to discuss with your dentist to see if this is a suitable option for you. Your gum health, natural tooth length, and pre-existing conditions are all factors here. 

If your canted smile is resulting from malocclusion, straightening it through orthodontic treatment - like braces or Invisalign - can help. Which orthodontic options are available to you depends on your malocclusion. A thorough examination with a dentist can help you determine this. A qualified health professional can also guide you through key considerations of each option, like treatment time, cost, and convenience. 

 While some patients choose veneers as an immediate alternative to orthodontics, it is sometimes the only option for certain situations and objectives. For example, for a case where short teeth length from heavy grinding creates a canted smile, the only way to lengthen teeth may be veneers. With veneers, patients have the option of designing their ideal smile - whether to more closely match their natural proportions, or to totally transform their smile. Suitability depends on a variety of factors. It's always best to consult with a qualified health professional to understand the options available to you.

In our case, the patient came to us with aesthetic concerns surrounding a canted smile and a gummy smile. She chose the porcelain veneer option as she also wanted to improve shape and colour. This was paired with gum contouring to even up the gum line. See our other before and after results for more examples.

Canted smiles are certainly befuddling. If it's bothering you, we always recommend to find out your options and do some research. The best decision is an informed decision.  If you’d like to learn more about canted smiles and the potential treatment options available at Vogue Dental Studios, get in touch with our friendly team today, and we can book you in for a consultation and examination. 

Gum Lift Articles

What is a gum lift or gum laser surgery?

How to fix your gummy smile

The Canted Smile: A Guide