Gum Depigmentation
What is Gum Depigmentation?
Gums that are discolored can negatively affect the aesthetic look of your smile. Not to mention, it can affect how you feel about the entire look of your smile. Fortunately, there is an easy way to restore your gums to a natural and healthy-looking shade of pink. Instead of living with discolored gums, visit American Aesthetic Medical Center to see if a gum depigmentation treatment (also known as gum bleaching) is right for you! You’ll be amazed at how well pink gums can showcase your naturally beautiful smile.
Causes of Gum Depigmentation
- Genetics.
- Amalgam filling on the gums.
- Smoking.
- Certain medications.
- Gum diseases.
- Increased melanin production.
FAQ
The main guideline is simply that the gums must be healthy. We can assess your gum health at the free consultation that you have with our dentist.
This cosmetic treatment is not suitable for:
- Patients with oral disease
- Patients with dark gums caused by periodontal disease (this is not a surface pigment problem)
- Patients taking blood thinners (these can cause excessive bleeding during treatment)
- Patients with thin gum tissue or prominent tooth roots (they may experience ongoing sensitivity if roots are accidentally exposed by the removal of gum tissue)
Patients who utilize a dental laser can expect minor discomfort and no complications after the treatment. Patients with very sensitive gums may experience some discomfort for a short period of time. Patients can expect to be able to speak and eat normally immediately after the treatment is completed. Everything heals in about 2 weeks.
One gum depigmentation treatment can last 20 years or up to a lifetime.
The procedure takes 20-45 minutes depending on the color and size of the dark patch. We will give you local anesthesia to make the procedure as comfortable as possible.
On your review appointment, we can go over the areas that you can still see some pigmentation.
We encourage all smokers to stop smoking completely after the procedure as smoking is one of the causes of pigmentation. You need to stop smoking for at least 7 days after the procedure.