Gingivectomy & Frenectomy Services in Tucson

When it comes to receiving orthodontic treatment, your teeth aren’t the only aspect that may need help. A skilled orthodontist can evaluate when your bite alignment may be affected by soft tissue formation and how to address the issue. At Doctor Smiles Orthodontics, Dr. Marisela Bedoya uses her advanced training to provide quality frenectomy and gingivectomy services in Tucson.

You can trust our team to provide compassionate and personalized care at every stage of treatment. Our staff is friendly and will take the time to explain your options and answer questions, so you feel confident in your choices. If you are looking for specialized gingivectomy or frenectomy treatments in Tucson for you or your child, schedule a visit with our orthodontist today!

What is a Frenectomy in Orthodontic Treatment?

A frenum or frenulum is a fold of tissue used to anchor semi-mobile parts of the body, including the tongue and lips. A frenectomy is used to adjust this tissue when it poses a problem to your oral function or bite. Frenectomies are often performed on infants to improve tongue mobility, but they can also be used in orthodontics to eliminate gaps and improve dental alignment.

If the frenum between the two front teeth is too long or too thick, it can create a gap between the teeth and will need to be reshaped or removed to allow the gap to close. Another common issue is when the frenum holding the tongue is too short, reducing tongue movement. This may force the bottom jaw slightly forward to enable normal speech, resulting in bite and jaw problems. To address this, our orthodontist trims back the frenum, allowing a greater range of movement for the tongue and letting the jaw settle into a more natural position.

Would I Need a Gingivectomy?

A gingivectomy is used to reshape the gum tissue, creating a more even gum line or trimming the gums back to expose more of the tooth. In orthodontics, the reason for a gingivectomy can be cosmetic, health-related, or both, depending on your individual case. Our orthodontist will discuss your situation and evaluate whether a gingivectomy may be beneficial before, during, or after your treatment.

Common reasons for an orthodontic gingivectomy include:

  • A Gummy Smile: If your gum tissue sits low, making your teeth appear shorter or smaller, it can impact the overall appeal of your smile. A gingivectomy can pull back the gum line to reveal more of your natural teeth, enhancing your smile’s appearance.
  • An Uneven Gum Line: When the gums sit lower on one side, your bite may appear unbalanced. Our orthodontist can use a gingivectomy to even your gum line across your entire smile.
  • Overgrown Gums: It’s not uncommon for the gum line to change during orthodontic treatment. For some patients, the gums may even grow excessively around the brackets, which both impacts your appearance and can increase the risk of gum disease. Removing the excess gum tissue promotes better gum health and preserves your dental aesthetic.

At our practice, we’re committed to providing care that is innovative, effective, and promotes your well-being above all else. For our gingivectomy and frenectomy treatments, our orthodontist uses a dental laser to provide precise and beneficial gum and soft tissue reshaping.

Dental lasers are fast becoming one of the most popular treatments for their numerous benefits. The laser is thin and highly precise, allowing us to carefully shape the gums without harming the remaining tissue. Because the laser produces no sound or vibration, it is also more comfortable, and many patients don’t need a local anesthetic during the procedure. Another benefit is that the laser cauterizes the tissue as it trims, which reduces bleeding and also shortens your healing time afterward.

Our orthodontist will first take the time to discuss what will happen during the procedure and what to expect from the results. Once you feel comfortable, we’ll use the laser to trim or remove the tissue in the problem areas. Procedure time will vary depending on the nature of the treatment, but the dental laser makes it fairly quick, and everything is usually completed in a single appointment.

We’ll ask you to avoid brushing, flossing, or rinsing your mouth for the first 24 hours after treatment. Our orthodontist will give you instructions on how to care for your smile while you recover from the procedure. You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to deal with any gum or tissue sensitivity, which should gradually decrease over the next few days. Once your mouth has fully healed, you’ll be able to enjoy a healthy and appealing smile.

Your Reliable Team for Frenectomy & Gingivectomy in Tucson

At Doctor Smiles Orthodontics, we strive to offer orthodontic services that are comprehensive and personalized to help you achieve your healthiest and most beautiful smile. Whether we are providing treatment for you or your child, you can count on us to be attentive, friendly, and precise in every aspect of our care. Our Tucson frenectomy and gingivectomy services will offer the aesthetic and wellness boost your smile deserves. Contact our office to schedule your consultation and see if our laser gingivectomy and frenectomy treatments are right for you!