Have you heard of crown lengthening before? It’s a procedure that can help balance your smile if your teeth appear too short or your gums too prominent. Removing gum tissue or, in some cases, more drastic alterations can craft a beautiful custom smile that addresses the specific issues you’re concerned about.

The Benefits of Crown Lengthening

What is crown lengthening good for? It’s one of the many cosmetic dental procedures available that could be right for your smile. Some people simply have proportionally more gum tissue, creating the appearance of smaller teeth. If this problem affects you, and you aren’t satisfied with your smile, this procedure could help.

In most cases, the procedure is straightforward, recovery is fast, and the results are stunning and natural-looking. Patients who always had to deal with a gummy smile can instead benefit from crown lengthening to boost both their aesthetics and confidence.

Your Crown Lengthening Procedure

The first step will be a consultation with your dentist to find out whether crown lengthening is right for you. This will involve both a physical inspection and a discussion of your goals. Crown lengthening may or may not be the right choice.

Preparing for the procedure may require X-rays as well to take a look at your teeth below the gumline and your jaw. While most procedures focus on sculpting gum tissue, sometimes, crown lengthening requires more extensive oral surgery.

If a gingivectomy (removal of excess gum tissue) is the right path forward, your dentist will carry out a series of crown lengthening procedure steps.

1. You’ll receive a local anesthetic or other sedation options, as discussed with our dentist beforehand.
2. Your dentist will use either a scalpel or dental laser to carefully remove excess gum tissue.
3. Your dentist will carefully shape and contour the new gumline to ensure a natural appearance.
4. The site will be cleaned, and in the case of traditional gum contouring with a scalpel, you will need sutures as well.

The procedure is generally relatively quick and straightforward, and local anesthetic or other sedation options ensure you remain comfortable throughout the entire process.

After Your Crown Lengthening Surgery

There will be some recovery time after your procedure as the gums heal. Your dentist will go over aftercare instructions in detail, but some examples of common requirements include eating only soft foods for several days after treatment and altering your oral hygiene routine.

Crown lengthening has shown excellent long-term retention rates. While there are some cases where gum tissue can grow back over the years, 83% of cases maintain their results for at least ten years.

Find the Right Way to Boost Your Smile

Could crown lengthening be the perfect way to improve your smile? There are many potential cosmetic dental procedures that could enhance your unique smile. The best way to determine which is right for you is to talk with your trusted family dentist.

Pinnacle Dentistry offers a full range of cosmetic dental options. Schedule a consultation today to discover how you can boost your smile.