A balanced smile is beautiful: 6 FAQs about crown lengthening to achieve a more esthetic gumline for balanced and pleasing smiles!
All of our “smile features” are in beautiful proportion with each other. When there is either too little or too much tissue at the gumline, smiles may look overly “toothy” or “gummy.” Esthetic crown lengthening at Rolling Oaks Dental supports appealing symmetry between the teeth and gumline. Read on as our friendly and talented team in Garden Ridge, Texas, explains how we design smiles that exude health, radiance, and confidence by answering your FAQs about this procedure.
What does crown lengthening “treat”?
Studies have revealed that just three millimeters of excess gingiva can make the gumline look too prominent. Excessive tissue around your tooth’s white, visible crown part overwhelms the rest of the smile. Your teeth may be the right length, but they won’t appear that way.
What causes the gums to stick out so much?
Gingival hypertrophy or hyperplasia (gum enlargement) may be caused by how the teeth and supporting tissues develop. Some patients may have a genetic propensity for collagen overproduction. Too much of this structural protein can result in the overgrowth of gum tissue. Gingival overgrowth may be triggered by conditions like diabetes and medications like calcium channel blockers, phenytoin derivatives, and cyclosporine used to manage these diseases. In addition to systemic illnesses, oral issues like gum disease and worn teeth may be blamed due to persistent inflammation and tooth length reduction.
How do I get started?
Like other treatments offered at our office, crown lengthening begins with a consultation. Drs. Larry Dougherty and Richard D’Avanzo take a peek inside your mouth. Advanced diagnostic technologies may also be used to “see” what we cannot detect with our eyes alone. We cannot treat what we do not know. So, an accurate diagnosis is essential.
How is crown lengthening performed?
If this treatment is appropriate, a plan is developed to create the appearance of longer teeth and a more symmetrical smile. Crown lengthening may also be indicated to repair fractures underneath the gumline. Our dentists access the underlying structure to restore the broken tooth as it is exposed. The recommended technique depends on your needs and findings from a thorough evaluation at our office. Some diverse methods that can be practiced include gingivectomy, apically repositioned flap surgery, and surgical extrusion.
What are some general steps that may be involved?
Excessive gums and/or supportive bone may be reshaped and removed. For utmost comfort, a numbing anesthetic is administered before treatment. So, you won’t feel anything as the crown is further exposed. We also account for factors such as the number of teeth requiring treatment when making cosmetic and/or restorative dentistry recommendations. Only a small amount of gum tissue may need to be adjusted since there are risks like an allergic reaction to the anesthetic (rare) and relapse of the gum tissue. Symmetry may be achieved by removing bone from the roots of the teeth.
Regardless of the situation, the opening created to access the underlying tissues is cleansed and closed. Of course, we will review any after-care and follow-up needs with you before treatment.
What other treatments might be best at Rolling Oaks Dental?
During an exam, we may determine that other treatments are more appropriate. For instance, periodontal therapy may be necessary to treat the inflammation associated with active gum disease. Dental restorations may be recommended to build up the natural teeth. Or orthodontic treatment with Invisalign® may be used in the future to realign your teeth. These interventions also support a more attractive and balanced smile and may be used in conjunction with crown lengthening or as part of a full smile makeover.
There are many options in Garden Ridge, TX, for getting the healthy, stunning smile you deserve. Call us at (210) 880-2229 to schedule a consultation today.
