Last updated on August 16th, 2023
Gum bleaching is an excellent way to get a better smile. Everybody wants to smile in the most beautiful way possible, but it is not always possible due to problems with teeth or gums. Although tooth-related issues are more common in society, some people suffer from dark gums.
In this post, starting from the definition, you will learn everything about gum bleaching, including the reasons and results of such a procedure. There is also beneficial information about other details of the gum bleaching like the cost, length, and abroad options. Read on!
What is Gum Bleaching (Depigmentation)?
Gum bleaching, also called gum depigmentation, dark gum treatment, gum lightening/ whitening, is a quick and relatively painless cosmetic treatment. The procedure is performed by using a soft tissue laser. The laser is directed to the black or brown patches on the gum tissue, and those dark shades go away. Although many patients have this treatment to get rid of their dark gums, some people still receive this treatment to have equally pink gums all over their mouths.
What Causes Dark, Or Patchy Gums?
Gingival pigmentation can develop due to various reasons. Sometimes, even more than one reason can have a role in this problem. Here are the potential causes of dark gums;
Melanin
Melanin is naturally produced in our body, and it gives our skin the color they have. Higher amount of melanin results in darker colors on our skin, hair, or eyes. Likewise, melanin in gums leads to brown or even black patches.
A high level of melanin in the body results from hereditary and ethnic factors. For example, people with dark skin have a higher tendency to have darker gums.
Smoking
As widely known, smoking leads to discoloration on the teeth’ surface. So, not surprisingly, it causes the gums to get darker, as well. However, it is not that the smoke directly sits on the gum tissue. Instead, the story is a bit different. The nicotine in tobacco calls for a higher amount of melanin in the cells, then the body produces more melanin than usual, which causes dark gums.
Medications
Some medications have adverse effects on the pigmentation of the skin and gum. As a result, they might lead to dark gums. However, dark patches on gum tissues resulting from medications usually go away after the patient stops using the medications.
Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis
Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis is also called trench mouth. It is a periodontal disease caused by excessive bacteria. Being a relatively more severe infection, acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis can lead to painful gums, high fever, and bad breath, in addition to discoloration and pigmentation on the gum tissue. The discoloration is usually caused by the dead tissue, which is grey or black.
Is Gum Bleaching Safe?
Yes, the gum bleaching process is safe. Your mouth is anesthetized, and the dark tissue on the surface is removed gently using a microdermabrasion process or laser technology. You can get the result on the same day.
Is Gum Bleaching Painful?
No. The gum bleaching procedure is a non-invasive one, and it will not give you much pain. Though you may feel a little bit of discomfort, it is easily tolerable. You might feel sensitivity on your gums soon after the procedure, but it is temporary.
What Are The Side Effects Of Gum Bleaching?
Gum bleaching has instant effects on your gums, and you can expect no gum bleaching side effects. After the bleaching procedure, you can feel a slight sensitivity for some time, but it doesn’t lead to significant discomfort or pain. Patients can eat and speak normally just after their gum bleaching.
How Is The Gum Bleaching Process?
Dentistry science is trying to find new and better ways to perform gum bleaching, and they pay a great effort to develop new technologies like liquid nitrogen-assisted gum depigmentation (LNAGD). Though scientists are trying hard to improve things, there are two common gum bleaching treatment techniques widely practiced in dental clinics today: laser treatment and microdermabrasion. Here are the details of each treatment technique:
Laser Gum Bleaching Technique
The treatment might need local anesthesia before starting the process. Then a gum depigmenting laser is given to the gums. The melanin pigments in the gum cells absorb the laser. The laser heats the cells until the pigments are damaged. The damaged cells are deposited by the body naturally. Then, new cells with less melanin begin to reproduce, and your gums look pink this time.
Microdermabrasion Gum Bleaching Technique
The microdermabrasion process is similar to the peeling procedure followed in dermatology. First, a whitening gel is put on the gums, and then it is removed along with the darker gum tissue on the surface. The new pink gum appears after the old tissue is removed completely.
How Long Does The Gum Bleaching Treatment Take?
The gum bleaching procedure takes around 45 minutes. Depending on the local anesthetic, you might need to wait a bit before the process starts. However, in many cases, you can get rid of dark gums in less than an hour.
What Are Gum Bleaching Products?
Aside from the anesthetic products, gum lightening treatment involves gingival gel and syringes to apply the gel.
If you prefer the laser technique, they just use special laser devices for the treatment.
How Long Does Gum Bleaching Effects Last?
As mentioned above, the gum bleaching procedure takes less than an hour. However, especially for the cases caused by outer factors such as smoking, the effects of the procedure last pretty long. Although the beautiful pink gums keep their color for 20-25 years for some patients, the effects are permanent in most cases. So, yes, you can enjoy your healthy-looking pink gums for as long as your lifetime. However, the same effect is not possible in cases with genetic causes. In these cases, the impact of gum bleaching starts diminishing in a couple of years.
How Much Does Gum Bleaching Cost?
Gum bleaching cost depends on the work performed on your gums. For example, if you have gum depigmentation on the upper or lower gum only, you pay less, but you are supposed to pay more if you need depigmentation for both gums.
There are also some other factors. The degree of discoloration is one consideration, for example. Also, the location of the gum pigmentation is another issue to consider. Finally, the depth of discoloration can affect the price of gum depigmentation.
Considering all the factors mentioned above, the cost of gum bleaching should range between $600 and $1100.
What Should I Do For Gum Bleaching Aftercare?
The recovery after a gum bleaching treatment is pretty short. Nonetheless, as in any other dental treatment, you are supposed to follow some aftercare instructions. Some common aftercare instructions are as follows:
– Keep away from smoking
– Keep away from alcohol
– Eat a healthy diet
– Brush your teeth gently
– Avoid food that can damage your gum tissue
– Don’t forget your follow-up appointment with your dentist
Gum Bleaching Abroad: Maltepe Dental Clinic
Gum bleaching is a simple yet life-changing dental treatment. You don’t have to smile with dark gums. But, on the other hand, you don’t have to spend a fortune on this treatment.
Dental treatment abroad is not a fantasy now. Millions of people travel to other countries to get decent dental treatment without spending a lot of time and money. Moreover, they also explore new cultures and have nice vacations in other countries.
Turkey, located on the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, is one of the best destinations to get dental treatment. There are many dental clinics and qualified dental professionals, especially in bigger cities like Istanbul. The prices are surprisingly budget-friendly, and the health service quality is excellent. Many people from different parts of the world prefer Turkey for their major dental treatments such as implants, veneers, crowns, or cosmetic dentistry. Also, the country is promising a lot for tourists. You can enjoy the history, natural beauties, and culture during your visit to Turkey.
Maltepe Dental Clinic, located in Istanbul, is one of the best dental clinics that you can find in Turkey. We are dedicated to providing you with the best quality, clinical expertise, and dental technology to solve your dental problems. We have quality standards, and we strictly abide by them for each patient and treatment.For more information about gum bleaching at Maltepe Dental Clinic, you can look at our dental tourism process or contact us straight away.
