gum lift

English

Etymology

From gum + lift, apparently by analogy with face lift.

Noun

gum lift (plural gum lifts)

1. (cosmetic dentistry) A gingivectomy performed for the aesthetic purpose of raising or shaping the gum line.
   • 2000 June, Lorin Berland, “Digital art helps patients accept treatment”, in Dental Practice Report, page 24:

     Cosmetic imaging helps my patients see for themselves how gum lifts can make the difference between a satisfactory case and a great case.

   • 2002 summer, John A. Merrill, "Clinical Case Report: All-Ceramic Crown on Maxillary Left Central Incisor", in The Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, Volume 18, Number 2, page 54,

     A simple gum lift (gingivectomy) would not produce the desired results, as the actual mesiodistal root dimension is deficient.

   • 2003 January 15, crank@got.net, “various comments on the subject of teeth”, in rec.arts.bodyart (Usenet):

     so i saw on the news the other day a report on "gum lifts".... if you have a rather-too gummy smile, you apparently can now pay $800-3000 bucks for a periodontist to evaluate the gumminess of your smile, gentian-violet your face, & carve away big chunks of gum tissue.

   • 2006 January 18, Olivia Barker, "Patients smile at getting long in the tooth", USA Today,

     Those whose smiles are more Mister Ed than Miss America have a new hope: the gum lift.