FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, October 18, 1997
CONTACT:
Chris Martin
Jann Ingmire
DC Convention Center
202/371-4509
Chicago Office
312/440-2806
Gum Grafting Provides New Smile Options
WASHINGTON -- Tooth whitening may be the most popular cosmetic dental procedure, but more and more patients are discovering a great way to improve their smile by sculpting their gums. That's the message from Houston periodontist Michael McGuire, D.D.S. Dr. McGuire has developed a practice in which 60 percent of his patients need or ask for cosmetic periodontal (gum) treatment to improve the appearance of their teeth. Dr. McGuire will give a presentation on cosmetic periodontal procedures on Saturday, October 18, at the American Dental Association's (ADA) 138th Annual Session in Washington, D.C.
"This area of dentistry has come a long way since I went to dental school in the 1970s," he says. Procedures he was told then could not be done are now routine in his office, he explains. However, periodontal cosmetic surgery is still relatively new, and most procedures are peformed by periodontists. Today, periodontists can work with general dentists to help patients achieve the smile they desire. "If a patient feels they have a 'gummy' smile or the teeth appear too short, periodontists can sculpt the gumline in order to 'lengthen' the teeth. In this case, it's not the teeth that are too short, but gums that are too long," he says.
Some patients have the opposite problem -- their teeth look too long because of gum recession from periodontal disease. Now, a grafting procedure can remove sections of gum in one area of the mouth and insert that section into the area where the gum receded, effectively creating teeth that look the right length, he says. Dr. McGuire explains that cosmetic periodontal procedures are new and most patients have not yet realized that these procedures are a viable way to improve their smile.
"Communication between the patient, general dentist and periodontist is very important," he states. "Nowhere in dentistry is teamwork so important to success." Dr. McGuire stresses that cosmetic periodontal procedures are best performed prior to restorative dental procedures like crowns or veneers. "Some new procedures," he adds, "will allow cosmetic alterations to the gums next to teeth that already have restorations, provided the patient is aware that the restoration (crown or veneer) may have to be redone.
" As with any surgical procedure, patients need to be aware that there may be some discomfort, but Dr. McGuire indicates that a majority of the cosmetic periodontal procedures are managed without general anesthesia or narcotics for post-operative pain. "Almost all of the procedures I perform are done in my office and require local anesthetic before the procedure and a common pain reliever, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, afterward," he says. For patients who are considering a cosmetic procedure, Dr. McGuire recommends they start with their general dentist, who may be able to make a referral to a local periodontist who has performed some of these procedures.
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