Gingival Depigmentation

Gingival pigmentation is a prevalent issue where excessive melanin causes the gums to appear darker than normal. This makes some people overly conscious of how they look, thereby preventing them from speaking or smiling confidently.

Gingival depigmentation is the process of removing the superficial pigmented (dark)layer of the gums through various treatments such as electrosurgery, scalpel surgery and usage of dental lasers. Within a few days of the treatment, the gums are naturally restored to a healthy pink shade.

What Causes Gum Discoloration?

Just like the color of the skin, the color of the gums too is genetic. In some cases higher pigmentation occurs due to poor dental hygiene, smoking, certain medications or low quality dental crowns/fillings that have corroded.

Advantages of Laser Depigmentation:

Usage of dental lasers is the preferred treatment method for gingival depigmentation as it has some obvious advantages over the others.

• The procedure is simple, safe and painless.
• The gums heal faster after treatment.
• It is convenient, effective and more reliable than traditional methods.
• Periodontal dressing is often not required post treatment.

The entire procedure is usually done in a single sitting, and not much follow up care will be required post treatment.

Gingival Depigmentation Using a Dental Laser:

Lasers have become more prominent in treating dental problems as they are minimally invasive and cause the patient less trauma. The laser typically changes electrical energy into light energy which is then absorbed by the pigmentation in the soft gum tissues.

The laser vaporizes and removes a thin superficial layer of the gum tissue, thereby destroying the melanin producing cells. This drastically reduces the production of melanin in the gum tissue and restores the color of the gums to a lighter, healthy shade.

The cost of gingival depigmentation varies depending on the amount and depth of the pigmentation. A local anesthetic may be provided to ease the individual. The entire procedure is usually done in a single sitting, and not much follow up care will be required post treatment.

The removal of pigmentation in the gums is sure to make it look aesthetically pleasing and create a more confident smile.