Gingivoplasty
Pronunciation: jin-jih-voh-PLAS-tee
A surgical reshaping of the gingival contour to create or restore physiological form and architecture without the primary goal of pocket elimination.
Full Definition
Gingivoplasty is performed to correct gingival deformities such as clefts, craters, or irregular margins that may impair plaque control or aesthetics, but in which no pathological pocket is present. The procedure involves removing or reshaping excess or malformed tissue using scalpels, rotary instruments, or electrosurgery to recreate a knife-edge gingival margin, physiological embrasures, and adequate gingival contour. It is frequently combined with gingivectomy when both pocket elimination and tissue recontouring are required. Because gingivoplasty does not address bone architecture, its scope is limited to the soft tissues. Editors should be alert to the tendency for authors to use 'gingivoplasty' loosely to describe any gingival reshaping, including procedures that extend to bone.
Usage
Usage note: Editors must preserve the distinction between gingivoplasty (form correction, no pocket) and gingivectomy (pocket elimination). Authors frequently conflate the two; flag and query when the context is ambiguous.
In Context
- "Gingivoplasty was combined with gingivectomy to achieve both pocket elimination and improved gingival contour." — Surgical case note
- "Electrosurgery was used to perform gingivoplasty in the area of persistent gingival clefting." — Clinical procedure description