Smile esthetics
Periodontal plastic surgery and gum esthetics to harmonise the smile, working hand in hand with prosthetic and implant rehabilitation.
The esthetics of a smile depend as much on the teeth as on the gum frame around them. Recessions that expose the roots, asymmetric gum margins, a smile that shows too much gum or thin soft tissues around an implant compromise the result of even the best prosthetic work. Periodontal plastic surgery corrects these defects with microsurgical techniques and connective-tissue grafts.
I work closely with the prosthodontist: soft-tissue management precedes and accompanies the rehabilitation, because a stable, thick gum margin is the precondition for a natural, long-lasting result. The goal is not a standard smile, but a smile in harmony with the face, with function and with the health of the tissues.
Recession coverage also has a clinical value, not only an esthetic one: it protects the exposed root from sensitivity and root caries and makes daily hygiene easier.
When it is indicated
- Single and multiple gum recessions, with exposed or sensitive roots
- Gummy smile and excessive visible gum
- Asymmetric gum margins before veneers or crowns
- Thin soft tissues around teeth and implants
- Esthetic crown lengthening and papilla reconstruction
How it works
- 01Esthetic and photographic analysis of the smile, with assessment of tissue thickness and quality.
- 02Planning shared with the prosthodontist whenever veneers, crowns or implants are involved.
- 03Microsurgery under local anaesthesia, with a connective-tissue graft taken from the palate or with substitute matrices.
- 04Initial healing within two to three weeks, with precise instructions to protect the treated area.
- 05Tissue maturation over the following months, before any prosthetic work is finalised.
Frequently asked questions
Is recession coverage permanent?
With appropriate techniques and sufficiently thick tissue, the results documented in the literature are stable in the long term. The condition is correcting the causes: traumatic brushing, inflammation and, in some cases, the position of the tooth.
Where does the graft tissue come from?
Usually from the palate, with techniques that keep post-operative discomfort to a minimum. In selected cases collagen matrices can be used, avoiding a second surgical site.
Does it hurt?
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia. Discomfort in the following days mainly concerns the donor site on the palate and is well controlled with common painkillers.
How long before prosthetic work should soft-tissue surgery be done?
The tissues are usually left to mature for two to six months before veneers, crowns or implant prostheses are finalised, so that the gum margin is stable.