One of the less-widely-known procedures cosmetic dentistry provides is aesthetic crown lengthening, sometimes called a gum lift or gum contouring. If you have a nice proportion of tooth-to-gum tissue in your smile, you’ve probably never thought about your gums as a cosmetic issue. However, if you’ve ever felt your smile is too “gummy” or that your gum line is uneven—this post is for you! We have the solution to a gummy smile, and you may be surprised by how quickly and easily we can correct it.
Do you want to correct your “gummy” smile? Visit Chisholm Trail Smile Center and Dr. Matthew Bridges will explain the details. Call our Duncan OK dental office at (580) 255-4880 for an appointment.
Crown Lengthening – How it Works
The fix for a gummy smile is called crown lengthening because it makes the crowns of your teeth appear to be longer than before. Your teeth are not altered in any way, of course. Instead, the gum tissue surrounding your teeth is carefully reshaped. During a short surgical procedure, a very small amount of gum tissue is carefully removed at strategic points. This creates a more aesthetically pleasing ratio of gum-to-tooth in your smile. This process is done conservatively, to preserve the majority of your gum tissue for good oral health.
Dr. Bridges provides crown lengthening in our office, with the use of a local anesthetic. This ensures you do not feel any pain during the treatment. However, you may have some soreness and swelling afterward, as is the case with most surgical procedures.
Advantages of crown lengthening:
- It only needs to be done once, for permanent results.
- The treatment takes only about 30-60 minutes.
- May reduce risk of tooth decay at the gum line.
Don’t I Need All My Gum Tissue?
Most people have the right amount of gum tissue to support the teeth and protect the roots. Damage from gum disease can cause gum recession. This is harmful to the teeth because it exposes tooth roots, which are not protected by tooth enamel. For most people, losing gum tissue puts the teeth at risk.
Patients who complain of a gummy smile, however, usually have more gum tissue than is needed. If you are interested in this procedure, we carefully examine your teeth to make sure this is the case. For most patients, it is possible to safely remove a small amount of gingival tissue from above the teeth that show when you smile—without exposing the tooth roots. This procedure has been done for years as a component of restorative treatments, and it is now accepted as a safe cosmetic treatment, as well.
Who is a Good Candidate for Crown Lengthening?
If you are in a generally good state of oral health you may be a good candidate for crown lengthening. If you are showing any signs of gingivitis or gum disease, however, you may need to have periodontal treatments before you can be evaluated as a candidate for crown lengthening.
Contact our Duncan OK dental office if you are interested in learning more about cosmetic crown lengthening and gum surgery. Visit us for a consultation and we will explain how it works, as well as the estimated costs. Call us at (580) 255-4880 for an appointment.
