Miami Gum Lift
Gum Contouring

Although the teeth play a major role in the way an individual’s smile looks, their gingival tissue (i.e., gums or gum tissue) does too. Therefore, people who feel self-conscious about their smile because of their gingival tissue’s characteristics may want to learn more about the gum contouring procedures available in Miami. Other general terms for this cosmetic dental procedure include gum reshaping and gingival sculpting.

Gum Contouring in Miami

Dr. Ramon Bana uses gum reshaping to create harmonious proportions between the patient’s teeth and gingival tissue. With a gingival sculpting procedure, he can reshape uneven gingival tissue, graft a receding gumline and remove excess gum tissue.

Dr. Bana Uses Laser Gum Contouring in Miami To Address Issues Affecting the Gingival Tissue

Dr. Bana offers laser gum reshaping because it is much more comfortable than the traditional surgical contouring procedure that is performed using a scalpel.

People with too much gum tissue have teeth that look shorter than they should be, and those with a receding gumline have teeth that look too long. Furthermore, people who have an uneven gumline may feel self-conscious about their smile. Dr. Ramon Bana is an experienced cosmetic dentist who addresses each of these issues with gum contouring procedures at his office in Miami.

Benefits of Laser Gum Contouring Over the Traditional Gum Reshaping Procedure

Prior to the development of laser gum reshaping, dentists would use a scalpel to reshape the gums. The laser procedure offers patients numerous benefits.

Benefits of laser gum reshaping:

• Healing time is quicker.
• The likelihood of a complication, such as an infection, decreases.
• There is very little bleeding, if any.
• There is no need for stitches.

What Is a Gum Lift?

A gum lift is a gum contouring procedure that is also referred to as a gingivectomy or a tooth-lengthening procedure. While performing a gingivectomy, Dr. Bana uses a laser to remove excess gingival tissue, allowing more of the patient’s teeth to show. Thus, improving their tooth-to-gum ratio.

A gum lift can:

• Improve the appearance of an individual’s smile.
• Allow the patient to smile naturally because they no longer need to hide their excess gum tissue.
• Boost a patient’s self-confidence level.
• Allow the patient to show more of their teeth.
• Improve an individual’s overall oral health.

Overgrown gingival tissue provides a place for bacteria to thrive. Therefore, removing this excess gum tissue improves the patient’s oral health. Once this excess tissue is eliminated, the patient can properly care for their teeth and gums. Thus, reducing the number of bacteria in their mouth.

What Causes Excess Gingival Tissue To Develop?

Overgrown gingival tissue may occur due to gum disease. When an individual has gingivitis, their gum tissue may respond aggressively to the irritants that excess plaque and tartar cause. It is important to note that someone with overgrown gingival tissue is still at risk for gum recession.

Gum Contouring Can Address a Receding or an Uneven Gumline

Dr. Bana may also address a receding or uneven gumline with a form of gingival sculpting referred to as a gingivoplasty. Whereas an uneven gumline is mostly aesthetic, if a receding gumline is left untreated, the individual may experience tooth sensitivity and tooth loss.

Using Gum Contouring To Address a Receding Gumline

A gingivoplasty to address a receding gumline involves harvesting some of the patient’s gum tissue from their palate to transfer to areas where their gingival tissue has receded. Following this procedure, patients enjoy an even, symmetrical gumline. Furthermore, any tooth sensitivity the patient was experiencing due to their receding gumline will diminish.

What Causes a Receding Gumline?

Gum recession may result from poor oral hygiene, genetic factors, aggressive brushing or the development of periodontal disease, which is a serious form of gingivitis.

How Does Excess or Receding Gingival Tissue Affect One’s Physical Health?

Excess gum tissue provides a place for bacteria to thrive, which increases the likelihood of the development of gum disease (i.e., gingivitis). Once gum disease develops, the individual’s gingival tissue becomes inflamed and bleeds. The openings in the tissue allow the bacteria to enter the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria move through the body. These bacteria increase the likelihood that an individual will develop heart disease. A receding gumline can also allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream. In addition, receding gums can result in tooth loss. The loss of teeth negatively affects an individual’s ability to properly chew their food, which places a strain on their digestive tract. For these reasons, gum contouring procedures in Miami can help improve a patient’s health.

Addressing an Uneven Gumline

Dr. Bana addresses an uneven gumline by removing excess gum tissue in the areas where the teeth appear shorter. If the patient also has areas where their gums recede, Dr. Bana can harvest tissue from the palate or use a substitute material to address missing or thinning gum tissue.

A Miami Gum Contouring Procedure Offers Patients Numerous Benefits

The benefits of a gum reshaping procedure can make it a significant part of any smile makeover.

The benefits of gingival sculpting in Miami include:

• Improving an individual’s oral health

  Besides enhancing the aesthetics of a smile, gum contouring improves oral health. When the gingival tissue is overgrown or uneven, proper cleaning can be difficult. The inability to thoroughly clean the teeth and gums can lead to the buildup of plaque and tartar, which inadvertently promotes bacteria growth. Following a gum reshaping procedure in Miami, patients have the access they need to effectively clean their teeth. Thus, allowing them to maintain good oral hygiene.

• Increasing self-confidence levels

  Many times, people who have overgrown, or uneven gingival tissue feel self-conscious when they smile. Since Dr. Bana addresses these issues during gum contouring procedures, after their procedure, patients enjoy a harmonious smile that is balanced and symmetrical. This boosts their self-esteem.

• Improving the patient’s overall dental function

  An uneven gumline can lead to problems with speaking clearly and chewing food. A gum reshaping procedure ensures proper alignment between the teeth and the gingival tissue.

• Helping to complement other cosmetic dental procedures

  By creating the perfect frame for dental restorations (e.g., crowns or veneers), gum contouring harmonizes the proportions between the gums and the teeth. This harmonization helps Dr. Ramon Bana use dental prostheses to create his patients’ natural-looking results.

Does a Laser Gum Contouring Procedure Hurt?

When patients have a gingivectomy or a gingivoplasty they usually receive local anesthesia, which numbs the treatment area. In addition, Dr. Bana offers sedation dentistry.

Sedation Dentistry in Miami

Dr. Ramon Bana’s training and credentials allow him to safely sedate his patients. Dr. Bana knows that some patients feel anxious about having dental procedures, which is why he offers his patients sedation dentistry. Therefore, he encourages patients who experience any type of dental fear, dental anxiety or dental phobia to consider one of the sedation options he offers.

Sedation options:

• Laughing gas (i.e., nitrous oxide)
• Oral sedation
• Twilight anesthesia

Patients who receive oral sedation or twilight anesthesia are unable to drive for at least 24 hours. Therefore, these patients need to bring a driver with them to the office on the day of their gum reshaping procedure.

A Consultation for Laser Gum Contouring in Miami

At their initial consultation, patients need to provide Dr. Bana with detailed information about their dental and medical histories. If the patient has any allergies to medications or latex, they must let Dr. Ramon Bana know.

After reviewing the patient’s information, Dr. Bana evaluates their oral health. He looks for cavities, gum disease and signs of cancer.

Patients should be prepared to discuss what dental issues they would like him to address. Once he knows the patient’s desires, Dr. Ramon Bana recommends the procedures that will provide the patient with the best results. If the patient decides to move forward with treatment, Dr. Bana creates a custom-designed treatment plan.

Personalized Gum Contouring Treatment Plans in Miami

Dr. Ramon Bana designs a treatment plan to meet each patient’s specific dental needs.

The issue an individual needs addressed determines whether Dr. Bana recommends a gingivectomy or a gingivoplasty.

Dr. Ramon Bana recommends a gingivectomy when an individual has a gummy smile. During this gum contouring procedure, he uses a laser to remove the patient’s excess gingival tissue. He also reshapes the gums to provide the patient with a balanced, symmetrical gumline.

When an individual has an uneven gumline or their gums are receding, Dr. Bana typically recommends a gingivoplasty.

Laser Gum Contouring in Miami

At his state-of-the-art office, Dr. Ramon Bana uses laser gum reshaping procedures to aesthetically improve his patients’ smiles. This procedure also enhances the patient’s ability to maintain a healthy mouth because the laser seals any pockets that are present between the tooth and gingival tissue. Sealing these pockets is essential because they provide a place for bacteria to thrive.

How Long Does Laser Gum Reshaping in Miami Take?

Laser gum reshaping procedures are relatively quick, only taking about 20 minutes.

What Happens During a Miami Laser Gum Contouring Procedure?

If the patient is receiving any form of sedation, this is the first step of their gingival sculpting procedure.

1. Dr. Ramon Bana administers local anesthesia to numb the treatment area. Once the treatment area is numb, the procedure begins.
2. If there is too much bone tissue around the teeth, Dr. Bana will carefully remove it. Removal of this excess bone is essential because if it remains, there is a good chance that the gum tissue he removes will grow back.
3. Dr. Ramon Bana uses a laser to carefully reshape the gumline or remove excess gingival tissue.
4. After removing or reshaping the gingival tissue, he carefully contours the tissues that remain to create an even, smooth gumline.

Recovering After a Gum Contouring Procedure in Miami

Following their gum reshaping procedure, patients should expect to experience some inflammation, sensitivity and discomfort. However, Dr. Bana provides his patients with aftercare instructions. These instructions include information about managing pain, maintaining their oral hygiene, and the foods they should avoid as they heal.

Each patient is unique. Therefore, recovery times vary. That said, in general, it takes about a week or two for gum tissue to heal. Nonetheless, Dr. Bana monitors his patients’ progress and provides guidance during the recovery process.

Although the recovery process after a gingival sculpting procedure is relatively quick, to ensure optimal healing, it is vital that patients follow the post-operative instructions that they receive.

Most patients can return to their normal daily activities within 24 to 48 hours of their gum reshaping procedure. However, for at least a week following their procedure, patients need to avoid strenuous physical activity.

Recovery Tips Following Gum Contouring in Miami

One of the most important things patients need to remember as they recover is to maintain good oral hygiene. They can accomplish this by using antiseptic mouthwash and gently brushing their teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush.

Patients must avoid consuming crunchy, chewy or hard foods, as well as foods that contain small seeds (e.g., raspberries, seeded breads). Consuming these foods could damage or irritate their newly contoured gingival tissue. Instead, for the first few days following their laser gum contouring procedure, patients should stick to soft, warm foods or soft, cool foods. Recommended foods include yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, soft vegetables, ice cream and pudding. In addition, patients should refrain from drinking hot beverages (e.g., coffee and tea).

Alleviate Discomfort

Patients can also use over-the-counter pain medication to alleviate discomfort.

Decrease Inflammation With Cryotherapy

To relieve inflammation after a gum contouring procedure, patients can gently hold an ice pack against the outside of their cheek in the swollen area. To prevent skin damage, patients need to wrap the ice pack in a cloth. This ice pack can remain in place for approximately 15 minutes. Patients can repeat this treatment once every 60 minutes.

Prevent Infection

Following their gum reshaping procedure in Miami, patients must avoid touching or picking at the treated areas. This could lead to unnecessary bleeding and result in the development of an infection.

Following these aftercare instructions and recommendations during recovery is essential to ensuring successful gum contouring results.

What Warrants a Phone Call To Dr. Ramon Bana’s Office?

If a patient has excessive bleeding or has developed an infection, it is vital that they call Dr. Bana’s office at (305) 857-3731 right away.

Miami Gum Contouring Offers Benefits Above and Beyond Aesthetics

Besides aesthetically improving the patient’s smile and boosting their self-confidence level, patients enjoy better oral health.

Better oral health results from the reduction of pockets in the gum tissue where bacteria accumulate. Reducing the size of these pockets allows the patient to properly clean their teeth and gums.

Gum Contouring Can Be Part of a Smile Makeover

Some patients make gingival sculpting part of their smile makeover.

Some other smile-enhancing procedures patients use to improve their smiles include:

• Dental veneers

  To brighten the teeth and cover up flaws.

• Teeth contouring

  To improve irregularly shaped teeth or smooth out teeth that are uneven.

• Teeth whitening

  To remove stains from the teeth.

During the initial consultation, the patient should discuss their goals with Dr. Bana. The only way he can give a patient the smile they desire is if he knows what they would like to accomplish.

Are There Any Gum Contouring Risks or Complications?

As with all surgical procedures and treatments, there are risks associated with a gum reshaping procedure. Potential complications include bleeding, infection, sensitivity, gum recession and an allergic reaction to products used during the procedure.

Choosing an experienced cosmetic dentist to perform their gingival sculpting procedure is the best way to reduce the risks associated with gum reshaping in Miami.

The Importance of Choosing an Experienced Cosmetic Dentist in Miami

While sculpting the gums, cosmetic dentists need to take various factors into consideration. These factors include the patient’s facial structure, tooth shape and size, as well as their oral health status and personal goals.

How Much Does a Laser Gum Contouring Procedure in Miami Cost?

Each patient is unique, and so is their treatment plan. Therefore, the only way that Dr. Ramon Bana can determine the cost of a patient’s gum reshaping procedure is with an oral exam. Individuals who are considering laser gum reshaping in Miami should schedule an appointment at his state-of-the-art office in Miami. After their initial consultation, Dr. Bana can provide them with a cost estimate.

Will Dental Insurance Help Pay for a Gum Contouring Procedure?

If a gingival sculpting procedure is medically necessary as opposed to strictly aesthetic, most dental insurance companies will cover a portion of the procedure. Therefore, Dr. Ramon Bana recommends that individuals contact their insurance company to find out if their plan will cover a laser gum reshaping procedure in Miami.

If you are in the Miami area, and you believe a gum contouring procedure can enhance your smile and improve your oral health, contact Dr. Ramon Bana’s office today. To schedule your initial consultation, call (305) 857-3731. Dr. Bana’s office address is 2461 Coral Way in Miami