Dentists treat their patients with the most conservative measures possible, but sometimes surgery is necessary to facilitate oral health and aesthetics. Some of the reasons your dentist may recommend gum surgery include:

To restore gum tissues lost to periodontal disease. Also known as guided tissue regeneration, this procedure is often combined with bone grafting to help support the teeth.

To cosmetically improve your gum line. Known as mucogingival surgery, this procedure grafts soft oral tissues into the gum line to fill in areas that have become recessed. The gum grafts conceal exposed tooth roots to allow for a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

To prepare your teeth for dental restorations. The purpose of this type of gum surgery is to reveal more of the tooth’s root, effectively lengthening the crown of the tooth. Crown lengthening is reserved for patients who have decay below the gum line or have inadequate tooth structure to support a dental restoration.