Does shaving the top layer of your gums down leave a scar or does it heal and look naturally?

Question

I had a gum graft using tissue from my roof of my mouth. The gums have healed but there is some additional bulk now. I would like to know if shaving down the gum leaves the gum looking different texture and color than the rest of the gums or if it looks natural. I ask because I also had a lower free gingival graft and that heals differently in terms of look. A doctor helped answer my previous question so now this is my follow up - regarding scaring. Thanks for helping :)

Lance Timmerman, DMD, MAGD · Answer

Sometimes grafted gums appear different in color and texture.  Most of the time the surface epithelium (skin) can be removed allowing the body to heal, leaving a new layer that more closely resembles the adjacent tissues.  This is not always possible, so it depends on the type of graft that was done, but is always worth the effort if the tissues currently make you self conscious.It is not as uncomfortable as one would assume.  Depending on methods, thechique and materials used, healing is usually quick and uneventful.

Herbert Veisman, DDS · Answer

You may or may not show scarring/colour discrepancy depending on the nature of the graft and the colour of the graft tissue versus the colour of the gums where the graft was placed. Hope this helps.

Alex Farnoosh, DMD · Answer

The degree of discoloration you can
expect from the "gum shaving" procedure can depend on a few different
things. In general, both the natural gum and the graft should heal and look
relatively natural. If uneven discoloration is a significant issue, you may be
a candidate for gum bleaching, a procedure that's offered by many aesthetic
dentists. I recommend scheduling a consultation with an aesthetic dentist near
you to learn more about your options. Good luck!

Does shaving the top layer of your gums down leave a scar or does it heal and look naturally?

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Does shaving the top layer of your gums down leave a scar or does it heal and look naturally?

Answers (3)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Gum Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.