Does periodontal surgery affect the appearance of your gums/teeth?

Yes, usually.: Prior to periodontal surgery, the gums are typically red and swollen. If the surgery is successful, and you carefully brush and floss every day, the gums should return to a healthy pink. You may show some recession or shrinkage of the gums also. Sometimes the shrinkage will be enough to expose some portion of the root on one or more teeth.

It can: If the surgery requires removal of enough gingival tissue, your teeth may appear longer due to the exposed roots. This may or may not affect your smile, depending on how high or low your lip line is when you do smile.

That depends: In the short term, of course the look of your mouth will change. In the long term, certain procedures (such as a gum graft) may leave the new tissue a different (more white color), as well as the amount of tooth coverage by the gums as surgical changes occur.

Not always: Periodontal cosmetic surgery can enhance the appearance of your smile, gingival grafting can do that by reducing gingival recession. Resective surgery will do the opposite. It all depends on your condition. Laser surgery is gentler to the tissue then traditional surgery. Talk to your periodontist and get all the facts. Good luck.