In the PINK

Gum tweakments can transform your smile. Whether you have too much on show or not enough, there’s a corrective procedure that can put your pearly whites centre stage

New stats show that we Britons, once notorious for bad teeth, are spending more than ever on enhancing our smiles. In fact, the cosmetic dentistry industry in the UK is currently valued at £2.2bn.

Today’s tweakments favour a natural aesthetic, from discreet composite bonding to clear aligners, but there’s so much more to the perfect smile than just teeth.

Gums – or “pink aesthetics” as celebrity dentist Dr Uchenna Okoye of London Smiling calls them – “are just as important when designing a bespoke smile”, says Uchenna, who features on Channel 4’s 10 Years Younger. And Dr Reena Wadia, a top London gum specialist, has seen a huge surge in gum rejuvenation treatments among women over 35. So what’s on offer?

GUM CONTOURING

Is your grin more gum than tooth? Gum contouring, or “crown lengthening”, trims excess tissue and often bone to rebalance lopsided gums and showcase more teeth – it’s the go-to for a gummy grin.

The procedure is performed with a laser or scalpel – much less painful than it sounds – for ultraprecision on every millimetre. And it can work on one tooth or across the whole mouth.

“It’s quick and non-invasive so ideal for low pain thresholds,” says Uchenna. “It might be tender for a day or two, but it’s much like having an ulcer.”

Prices from £200 per tooth; visit londonsmiling.com.

GUM GRAFTS

Looking a bit long in the tooth? Gum recession – when the root of the tooth becomes exposed – is not just unflattering; once the gum is gone, it doesn’t grow back. “For people over 40, it can be down to gum disease,” says Uchenna.

The signs can be subtle (for example, bleeding gums), but periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, can lead to tooth loss and affect the whole body, says Reena. “Teeth become loose and start to flare out so you get gaps, and it can be incredibly ageing,” she explains.

And it’s usually preventable, by maintaining good oral hygiene and having regular check-ups. Overzealous brushing and trauma are also leading causes of gum recession.

The solution is a gum graft, removing tissue from the roof of the mouth to bolster the receded area. “It’s done with local anaesthetic so it’s painless – then two weeks later we remove the stitches,” says Reena, who says this procedure is performed “every other day” in specialist clinics such as her own.

And the downtime? “Most patients are back at work the following day and any discomfort can easily be managed with painkillers.”

Prices from £900 to £2,300 at Dr Reena Wadia’s clinic, RW Perio; visit rwperio.com.

There has been a huge surge in gum rejuvenation treatments among women over 35