Our Services
Advanced plastic oral surgery from Boston’s best periodontal plastic surgery specialist.
In addition to providing standard cosmetic dental procedures, such as veneers and one-visit crowns, Dr. Smith has partnered with Dr. John Favaloro, a highly-skilled periodontist who provides advanced periodontal plastic surgery procedures.
According to Perio.org, more people are turning to cosmetic dental specialists in order to enhance their smiles. A recent poll of 253 consumers conducted by the American Academy of Periodontology found the following:
- 50% consider the smile the first facial feature they notice
- 80% are not happy with their smile
- Respondents were seven times more likely to have periodontal and smile enhancement procedures versus a face-lift
- Smile enhancement procedures outnumbered eyelid surgeries five to one
If you’re looking for help with enhancing your gum line, your lips, or your entire smile, you’ve come to the right place. Dr. Smith and Dr. Favaloro offer the following periodontal plastic surgery options:
Gum Enhancement and Lip Repositioning
Do you think you have a “gummy smile” or feel that your lips cover your teeth too much on one side but not another? Are you embarrassed to smile in social situations? If so, Dr. Favaloro can sculpt your gum tissue, exposing more of the crown of your teeth and less gum line. Although this procedure sounds invasive, it’s actually one of the easiest dental flaws to fix, is minimally invasive, and can usually be performed in one or two visits. In addition, Dr. Favaloro can reposition the lip so that less of your gum is exposed when you smile. Again, this procedure is minimally invasive and can be performed under general anesthesia.
On the opposite side, some people’s smile includes too much tooth – giving them what’s referred to as a “horse smile.” This problem is sometimes due to recessed gums – a common sign of aging and a potentially serious health situation as the exposed roots are subject to decay. Using soft tissue grafts, Dr. Favaloro can cover your exposed roots, ensuring your smile remains healthy for years.
Ridge Preservation
Once a tooth is extracted – either due to disease or other trauma – the socket (or bone) shrinks and over time, the ridge of the gum caves in. In order to preserve the ridge and prevent shrinkage after an extraction, Dr. Favaloro performs a bone graft. This procedure then lays the groundwork for a dental implant – ensuring the implant is placed in solid bone. (Please see our Regenerative Periodontal Service page for more information about bone grafting.)
Osseous Surgery
A basic periodontal procedure, Osseous Surgery is the reshaping of the bone that holds a tooth in place and is used to treat periodontal disease. People with the disease often develop defects in the bone. Reshaping the bone eliminates the defects. Because this is an invasive surgery, Dr. Favaloro will determine if you’re a candidate for conscious IV sedation.