Cosmetic Dentistry
Gum Depigmentation in Downtown Los Angeles
For when it is the gums, not the teeth, that you notice.
Dark patches in the gum tissue are melanin, they are entirely harmless, and for some people they are the thing they see first in every photograph. Depigmentation evens the color out. Smile LA Downtown Modern Dentistry will tell you honestly whether it is worth doing in your case.
The cause
What causes dark gums
Melanin, in the surface layer of the gum tissue — the same pigment that determines skin tone. It is natural, it is common, and it is not a sign of anything being wrong. Pigmentation is often more visible in people who otherwise have very healthy pink tissue, simply because the contrast against it is greater. Because it is harmless, this is a purely cosmetic treatment. Nobody needs it, and that is the right frame for the conversation: the only question worth asking is whether the look of it bothers you enough to be worth a procedure, and that is your answer to give rather than ours. Plenty of people who ask about it decide against, which is a perfectly good outcome of a consultation.
What it does
What the treatment does
The pigmented surface layer of the gum is removed so that the tissue heals a lighter, more even shade. It changes the color of the gum; it does not change its shape or its position.
- Not the same as contouring Gum contouring reshapes an uneven gum line or a gummy smile. Depigmentation leaves the shape alone and changes the color.
- Not a treatment for gum disease Redness, swelling and bleeding are a different thing entirely, and they get dealt with first. See gum disease.
- Assessed at a cosmetic consultation Along with the rest of your teeth, gums and bite, so the plan accounts for everything rather than one feature.
What we have not put on this page
How long the result lasts, whether pigmentation returns, and what the recovery involves all depend on technique and on the individual, and we would rather tell you accurately at a consultation than approximately here. Ask, and you will get a straight answer about your own case.
Where it fits
Depigmentation is usually one part of a wider cosmetic plan rather than a treatment on its own — see cosmetic dentistry and smile makeover.
The short answer
Gum depigmentation is a cosmetic treatment that lightens areas of gum tissue that are naturally dark because of melanin, the same pigment that determines skin tone. The pigmented surface layer of the gum is removed so that the tissue heals a lighter, more even shade, changing the color of the gums without changing their shape or position. Because the pigmentation is natural and harmless, the treatment is purely cosmetic and applies only when the look of dark gums bothers you enough to be worth a procedure.
Gum Depigmentation FAQ
- Why are my gums dark?
- Dark gums are caused by melanin in the surface layer of the gum tissue, the same pigment that determines skin tone. It is natural, common and harmless. Pigmentation is often more visible in people who otherwise have very healthy pink tissue, simply because the contrast is greater. It is not a sign of anything being wrong with the gums.
- Is it a sign of a problem?
- No, gum pigmentation is not a sign of a problem and is not gum disease. Redness, swelling and bleeding are the signs worth acting on, and those are treated separately. If any of those are present, they are dealt with before a cosmetic treatment is considered. Pigmentation on its own is simply a natural variation in gum color.
- Is this the same as gum contouring?
- No, gum contouring reshapes the gum line, while depigmentation changes the color of the gums and leaves their shape alone. Contouring is used for an uneven gum line or a gummy smile. Depigmentation removes the pigmented surface layer so the tissue heals a lighter, more even shade. Each addresses a different concern, and both are assessed at a cosmetic consultation along with the rest of your teeth, gums and bite.
- Do I need this treatment?
- No, gum depigmentation is purely cosmetic and nobody needs it for their health. It is worth doing only if the color of your gums bothers you enough to be worth a procedure, and that is your decision to make. Plenty of people who ask about it decide against it, which is a perfectly good outcome of a consultation. Where it is done, it is usually one part of a wider cosmetic plan rather than a treatment on its own.
- How long does the result last?
- How long the result lasts depends on the individual and on the technique used, so it is answered at a consultation rather than with a general number. Whether pigmentation returns varies in the same way. The recovery also depends on technique and on the individual. Ask at the consultation and you will get a straight answer about your own case.
