Trim overgrown gum tissue, reduce deep pockets, and make daily brushing easier with a gingivectomy on Armitage Avenue.
Gums that creep over your teeth can turn brushing into a battle you never quite win. Extra tissue traps plaque in pockets your toothbrush cannot reach, and it can make healthy teeth look short or uneven. A gingivectomy removes that excess tissue so your gumline is cleaner, healthier, and easier to care for.
Cityview Dental Arts, Dental Group of Chicago’s office in Bucktown, performs gingivectomy as one of several procedures within our periodontal care in Bucktown. Your exam, treatment, and follow-up visits all happen at our Armitage Avenue office, so there is rarely a need to see anyone else.
A gingivectomy is a minor gum surgery in which a dentist removes a small band of loose or overgrown gum tissue and reshapes the edge left behind. The goal is a firm, healthy gumline that fits snugly around each tooth instead of forming deep pockets where bacteria collect.
Overgrown gums have several possible causes, and certain medicines are among the most common. According to a 2021 review in the World Journal of Cardiology, gum overgrowth occurs in roughly 10% to 20% of people taking calcium channel blockers, a common type of blood pressure medicine. Never stop a prescribed medicine on your own, but do tell us what you take.
Dr. Bock founded Cityview Dental Arts and continues to treat patients from the Bucktown office today. His long history in the neighborhood means many patients have trusted him with their care for years, now backed by the resources of Dental Group of Chicago.
Our Bucktown dentists suggest a gingivectomy when extra gum tissue causes a health or appearance concern. Common reasons include the following.
Each of these makes plaque harder to remove, which raises the risk of decay and gum disease over time. A careful exam tells us whether removing tissue is the right next step.
Several periodontal procedures sound alike, so it helps to know where a gingivectomy fits.
A gingivoplasty reshapes gum tissue without removing much of it, mainly to smooth uneven edges. It is often done together with a gingivectomy to give the new gumline a natural, scalloped look.
A gingivectomy works on soft tissue only. When bone also needs adjusting to expose more of a tooth, crown lengthening in Bucktown is usually the better fit.
If your main goal is a more balanced smile, a gingivectomy may be one piece of broader cosmetic periodontal surgery in Bucktown. We explain the differences and recommend the simplest option that meets your goals.
Your visit starts with an exam, gum pocket measurements, and digital X-rays. If plaque and tartar sit below the gumline, a deep cleaning in Bucktown often comes first, and the gums may shrink enough on their own that less tissue needs to be removed.
We also ask about your medications and health history. With that information, we map out how much tissue to remove, how many teeth are involved, and what healing will look like, so you can plan around work and other commitments.
The treatment area is numbed with local anesthesia, and you stay awake and comfortable. Using small instruments, we remove the extra tissue, smooth the edges, and shape the gum so it follows the natural curve of each tooth.
A soft protective dressing may be placed over the area to shield it while it heals. Treatment time depends on how many teeth are involved, and most patients drive themselves home afterward with written care instructions.
Some tenderness and mild bleeding are normal for the first day or two. Cool, soft foods such as yogurt, applesauce, and scrambled eggs are easy on healing gums, while spicy, crunchy, or very hot foods are best avoided for a while. A gentle saltwater rinse can help keep the area clean.
Most people return to normal activities the next day, and the gums typically heal over about one to two weeks. A follow-up visit lets us check your progress, and daily habits for preventing gum disease and protecting your overall health help keep the new gumline in good shape.
A gingivectomy is often done for health reasons, and the cost depends on how many teeth are treated. Before treatment, our team reviews your dental coverage with you and gives you a clear estimate of your share.
Cherry financing lets you pay the remaining amount over time in monthly installments. New patients without dental insurance can begin with a $99 visit, which covers an initial cleaning, a comprehensive exam, and a full set of digital X-rays.
Dr. Jerome Bock founded Cityview Dental Arts and still sees patients at our Bucktown office, which is now part of Dental Group of Chicago. Our team completes most treatment in-house, so your cleanings, gum surgery, and follow-up checks stay with people who already know your history.
Long days Monday through Wednesday, with appointments until 8 p.m., make it easier to schedule care after work. During your visit, our comfort menu offers heated blankets, neck pillows, eucalyptus wipes, fresh fruit, and a coffee bar.
Local anesthesia numbs the area, so most patients feel only light pressure during treatment. Mild soreness for a few days afterward is common and usually eases with over-the-counter pain relief.
Most patients feel back to normal within a few days, and the gums typically heal fully in about one to two weeks. Larger treatment areas can take a little longer.
Healthy gums typically stay in their new position. If overgrowth was linked to a medication or plaque buildup, tissue can return, so good home care and regular cleanings matter.
A gingivectomy removes excess gum tissue, while a gingivoplasty reshapes tissue for a smoother, more natural contour. The two are often performed together.
In many cases, yes. Removing plaque and tartar first can reduce swelling and show exactly how much tissue needs to be removed.
When the extra coverage comes from soft tissue alone, a gingivectomy can reveal more of each tooth. If bone also covers part of the tooth, crown lengthening may be recommended instead.
Choose soft, cool foods like yogurt, applesauce, and scrambled eggs for the first few days. Skip spicy, crunchy, and very hot foods until the area feels comfortable.
Many patients return to work the same day or the next day. Planning a lighter schedule is a good idea if a larger area is being treated.
Our Bucktown office, Cityview Dental Arts, is located at 2232 W. Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647.
Cityview Dental Arts is open Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Use any Book Appointment button on this page to choose a time online, and our team will confirm your visit. New patients are always welcome.
Healthy gums should frame your teeth, not crowd them. Cityview Dental Arts combines gum treatment, deep cleanings, and long-term periodontal maintenance in one Bucktown office, with the added resources of Dental Group of Chicago behind our team.
If your gums look swollen, cover more of your teeth than they used to, or bleed no matter how well you brush, a gingivectomy may help you take back control. Contact Cityview Dental Arts to schedule your gingivectomy consultation in Bucktown.
2232 W. Armitage Ave
Chicago, IL
Monday – Wednesday
Thursday
Saturday – Sunday
8 AM – 8 PM
10 AM – 6 PM
Closed
