What Is LASER Gingivectomy?
Gingivectomy means removal of excess gum tissue. Traditionally this required a scalpel, sutures, and a week or more of healing. With a diode LASER, the same result is achieved with a fine beam of light that cuts, seals blood vessels, and sterilises the tissue simultaneously — in one visit, with no stitches required.
At Dr. Mittal's clinics, LASER gingivectomy is routinely performed on children and teenagers. It is indicated when excess gum tissue affects appearance, oral hygiene, or the eruption of teeth.
When Is It Needed?
- Drug-induced gingival overgrowth — certain medications (anti-epileptics, calcium channel blockers, immunosuppressants) cause gum tissue to enlarge. LASER removal is definitive while medication continues.
- Hereditary gingival fibromatosis — a genetic condition causing progressive gum overgrowth; LASER reshaping is both effective and well-tolerated in children.
- Passive eruption delay — when permanent teeth erupt slowly because excess gum covers them; removing the tissue accelerates eruption and reduces cavity risk.
- Crown lengthening before restorations — when a decay-affected tooth has broken near the gumline, exposing more tooth structure via LASER gingivectomy allows proper crown placement.
- Aesthetic gum contouring — for teenagers with an asymmetric or excessively 'gummy' smile, LASER reshaping achieves a balanced gum line in a single session.
The Procedure
The area is numbed with topical anaesthetic gel followed, if needed, by a small injection. The LASER handpiece is then guided precisely along the gum margin. The procedure takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on how many teeth are involved. There is no bleeding and no stitches. Most children return to school the following day.
Aftercare
- Soft diet for 24–48 hours — avoid hard, crunchy, or very hot foods while the tissue heals.
- Gentle rinsing — warm salt water rinses 3–4 times daily from day 2 onwards.
- Normal brushing — brush gently around the treated area; avoid aggressive scrubbing for one week.
- Follow-up — a review appointment at 2–4 weeks to assess healing and gum contour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not during the procedure — the area is numbed before the LASER is used. There is usually mild soreness for 1–3 days afterwards, well managed with standard children's pain relief (paracetamol or ibuprofen).
For drug-induced or hereditary overgrowth, partial regrowth can occur over months to years. For delayed eruption and aesthetic contouring, the result is permanent once healing is complete. We discuss realistic expectations at the consultation.
There is no strict minimum age. It is performed when clinically indicated — which may be at any age from early childhood (drug-induced overgrowth) through teenage years (aesthetic contouring). For aesthetic cases we typically wait until gum levels have stabilised, usually after all permanent teeth have erupted.