Home | Meet Dr. Farnoosh | Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Gum Bleaching / Treatment of Gum Discoloration

What causes gum discoloration?

In many cases, gum discoloration is genetic, just like the color of your skin. Individuals with darker skin have increased levels of melanin, which in addition to tinting the skin can also be present in the gums. Other contributing factors include smoking, taking certain medications like minocycline for treatment of acne, having metal crowns or fillings that have corroded, or other systemic conditions.

Who is the ideal candidate for gum bleaching?

An attractive smile looks good in every way. In addition to beautiful teeth, your smile requires good looking and anatomically pleasant gums. If you have discolored gums, you can benefit from this procedure. Patients who have a high lip line, which shows a large amount of gum when they smile, benefit most from the procedure, along with lip lowering.

What is dark gums treatment in Beverly Hills like?

Treatment varies depending on the cause and degree of discoloration. Some patients have discoloration only in the superficial (outermost) layers of the gum, while others experience pigmentation in deeper layers as well. Depending on your need, Dr. Farnoosh will decide which of his published treatment methods – used successfully in his office for almost two decades – will benefit you most.

Is the treatment painful?

Most patients experience no discomfort during or after the treatment. In the majority of cases, Dr. Farnoosh uses a topical numbing paste to desensitize the gums during the procedure. In some cases local anesthesia may be needed to numb the area.

How long does a dark gums treatment take?

Treatment time will depend on the extent of discoloration, but most patients complete their visit to Dr. Farnoosh's Beverly Hills office in 45 minutes to 1 hour.

What kind of post-operative care is required?

Patients should follow their usual routine of brushing and flossing. There is no special care needed after the treatment, though Dr. Farnoosh requires those patients who smoke to quit at least until the gums have healed completely.

Are there side effects or common complications?

Dr. Farnoosh has not seen or heard about any complications from gum bleaching during the many years he has performed the procedure.

How long until I can talk and eat normally?

Patients can talk, eat, and carry on with their regular activities as soon as they leave the office. There is no downtime following the procedure.

I don't live in Los Angeles. Can I be treated by another dentist in my area/city?

Dr. Farnoosh is the inventor of gum bleaching methods, which have been published in leading scientific journals. He has not trained any other dentist and is unaware of any other dental health professional who can achieve the same result. He has seen many patients from all over the world who fly in for his specialized procedure. Patients from out of town can coordinate their appointment in advance, fly to Los Angeles for their treatment on a Friday, and leave the same weekend.

This sounds like it's for me, but how much does it cost?

Cost will depend on many factors, such as degree and extent of discoloration, depth of discoloration, and location of discoloration. The best way to get an estimate of the cost, if you are outside the Los Angeles area, is to have an "intraoral photo" taken showing the area of discolored gums and send this photo by mail or email to Dr. Farnoosh. Upon his review, he will contact you to discuss the treatment and approximate cost.

How long can I expect my healthy gum appearance to last?

Dr. Farnoosh still sees some of his original gum bleaching patients, who have had no change in gum color after 17 years.

Is there a follow up visit needed after gum bleaching?

Usually not. However, Dr. Farnoosh likes to see post treatment results whenever possible, so patients who fly in for the procedure are encouraged to stop by the office if they plan to visit Los Angeles again.

What is the rate of success with this procedure?

Your results may vary, but Dr. Farnoosh usually sees improvement in 100% of his patients.

Has Dr. Farnoosh published his treatment method to treat gum discoloration?

Yes, the concept of treatment of gum discoloration to enhance esthetics and create a more attractive smile was published in part in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry in 1990. In addition, his innovative treatment of gum discoloration and examples of Dr. Farnoosh's patient cases were published in the 2006 New York Times best seller Billion Dollar Smile: A Complete Guide to Your Extreme Smile Makeover by Dr. Bill Dorfman.