Gum Depigmentation: A Reminder

Some patients look in the mirror and see dark splotches on otherwise healthy gums. This unevenness in the gum (gingiva) pigmentation makes them feel less confident when they smile. Maybe they think that this gum discoloration, while again, not normally a medical concern, makes their smile appear less healthy.

What Causes This Gum Discoloration?

 Excess melanin is the culprit, creating an uneven gum appearance. But we can even out spots for a beneficial aesthetic change when you smile. While genetic predisposition and ethnicity factors are usually the causes of uneven or excess gum pigmentation, other reasons can include:

• Systemic conditions such as endocrine disorder, Albright’s syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome or Addison’s disease
• Tobacco usage
• Side effects from certain medications

How Does the Gum Depigmentation Process Work?

We utilize today’s safest, most effective and minimally invasive laser gum lightening procedure to remove excess melanin and cosmetically change the color of your gums. Unlike bleaching procedures that remove superficial skin cells, our laser procedure removes the melanocytes, the type of skin cells that contain and produce that actual melanin pigment that causes gum discoloration. You can read more about gum depigmentation in Dr. Fava’s CrediHealth article “In the Pink: Zapping Away Dark Splotches with Lasers” and see an actual Pennsylvania Center for Dental Implants and Periodontics patient case history.

For more information, call one of our offices in Northeast Philadelphia at 215-677-8686 (Bustleton Avenue) or Ambler at 215-643-4393 (East Butler Avenue).