Is Gum Depigmentation Safe?
Gingival hyperpigmentation, or darkened gums, often appear as the result of an excess amount of melanin in the gum tissue and are more common among darker-skinned people, though the gums can also change color for other reasons. The first step in determining the cause of darkened gums is to see your dentist. In some cases, the gums may begin to appear dark red or inflamed because of poor oral hygiene and the presence of gum disease, which can cause permanent discoloration; in these cases, gum disease will require different types of treatment to restore the oral cavity to health, though gum depigmentation can be used to reduce permanent discoloration once the gum tissue is restored to health. Some medications and certain health conditions can affect the pigmentation of the gums, as can habits like tobacco use and smoking. In these cases, hyperpigmentation is likely to recur if the medication or habit continues, and patients are encouraged to seek alternate medications and to cease tobacco use.
If your oral cavity is healthy and no gum disease is present but you wish to lighten the color of your gums and restore their healthy pink hue, gum depigmentation could be a good solution for you. Using lasers, dental specialists can gently, effectively remove areas of hyperpigmented tissue and expose new layers of pink tissue, brightening the smile. While the treatment is sometimes called gum bleaching, no bleaching agents are used, and the minimally invasive laser technique is safe, effective, and provides immediate, long-lasting results with brief, painless recovery. Patients with existing infection in the gums or oral cavity and patients with excessively thin gum tissue or prominent tooth roots aren’t considered good candidates for gum depigmentation, but most patients with healthy gums can safely have gum depigmentation treatments.
Treatment begins with a local or topical anesthetic to numb the tissue before surgery begins. If you have any anxieties or questions about any aspect of the procedure, don’t be afraid to ask your dentist questions that might ease your mind, and, if you choose, you can ask about additional options for anxiety relief. Once the area is successfully numbed, the dentist will use laser techniques to remove areas of darkened tissue, in a treatment that could take as few as 20 minutes but may take one or two hours. In most cases, patients can return to normal activity immediately following the procedure.
For patients with healthy, robust gum tissue, laser gum depigmentation safely, effectively produces consistent results that eliminate hyperpigmentation and lighten the color of the gums. Because the procedure is minimally invasive and requires no incisions or stitches, the risk of infection is practically nonexistent and there is little to no discomfort following the procedure, though some patients report temporary sensitivity in the gum tissues following treatment. In most cases, treatment can be completed in a single visit, though more severe hyperpigmentation may require longer or multiple treatments. When hyperpigmentation occurs in smokers, it's important to refrain from smoking for at least a week after treatment, and many patients use this as a catalyst to quit completely. With brief recovery times, laser gum depigmentation has proven to be an effective, completely safe option for many patients who wish to lighten the color of their gums and restore its healthy pink hue, reinvigorating both their confidence and their radiant smile.
Reach out if you have any questions about gum depigmentation.