Crown Lengthening
Dentist Gresham, OR
 Having excess gums which is referred to as a gummy smile, can be fixed. If you are experiencing receding gums from gum disease, this can also be corrected. Improving your smile can greatly impact your confidence level. If you are thinking about correcting your gum issues, then you may be a good candidate for a crown lengthening procedure, done by Dr. Cooke, here at Gresham Dental Excellence.
What is Crown Lengthening?
Crown lengthening is a periodontal procedure offered by our professionals. This procedure involves the altering and reshaping of your gums for cosmetic and functional benefits. The procedure targets the soft tissue of your gums and is completed by removing or adding tissue as needed to achieve the goals of your procedure.
Benefits of Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening can have not only aesthetic benefits, but also health benefits, particularly for those with recessive gums and gum disease. Recessive gums are a common symptom of gum disease, but they also increase your risk of tooth decay and even tooth loss. By adding more tissue to recessive gums, we can help stabilize your teeth. If performed as part of a pocket reduction surgery, contouring helps to eliminate the pockets between your gums and your teeth that are home to bacteria. While aesthetic crown lengthening is not typically covered by dental insurance, insurance can cover the treatment when it is performed for health reasons. An aesthetic gum lift does require a healthy mouth, which means any infection or decay have to be cleared up first before you can receive treatment.
Crown Lengthening Procedure Explained
Whether our team is treating you for a gummy smile or receding gums, both procedures are completed with a soft-tissue laser. This device utilizes concentrated light to cut through your gum tissue and graft new tissue in place. The laser decreases your risk of infection because the heat kills bacteria on the surgical site. It also minimizes bleeding and cauterizes the tissue that it is applied to.
Our team will utilize a local anesthetic before the beginning of either procedure. If treating you for a gummy smile, our professionals will carefully remove the excess gum tissue using the laser. Healing time is expedited with laser surgery and you will only experience minor tenderness post-op.
If treating you for receding gums, our team will need to harvest soft tissue from another area of your mouth after the anesthetic is administered. Most often, the roof of your mouth is chosen as the donor site because of the excess material available. This harvested material will then be grafted to your gums in necessary locations to restore that natural shape and look of your gum line. Your new tissue will fuse with existing tissue and begin to function like your natural gums, providing added support to your teeth.
Recovery and Care After Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is a very simple and straightforward procedure, just one visit that is usually only about an hour, though sometimes we will ask for a second visit to checkup on your progress. There are different methods of performing gingival contouring using scalpels and soft tissue diode lasers, and the method used will change what you can expect both during and after the treatment. With a scalpel, local anesthetic will be administered, while a laser requires no anesthesia and takes less time. If a scalpel is used then we will stitch the incision shut, but no stitches are necessary with a laser since there is no bleeding. In both cases recovery is quick and there should be little to no downtime. We recommend stocking up on foods like soup, ice cream, yogurt, and other soft foods that will not irritate sensitive gums.
How Crown Lengthening Improves Oral Health
Gingival contouring is utilized to treat receding gums or a gummy smile. A gummy smile is a condition of having excess gum tissue. This tissue covers an excess amount of your tooth surface, making your teeth appear small and less pronounced. A gummy smile can also increase your risk of developing gum disease because this excess tissue can more easily trap plaque.
Receding gums, while the mirror opposite of a gummy smile, can present similar oral health risks. If you have gums that have receded, it exposes more of your teeth to bacteria and plaque build-up. Severely receded gums will not sufficiently protect the roots of your teeth and can lead to hot and cold sensitivity. Also, receding gums can result in you appearing "long in the tooth" due to an unusual amount of your teeth being visible.
Crown Lengthening for Cosmetic Purposes
With crown lengthening you can have gums that not only look great, but can also reduce your risk of gum disease. No matter if you are looking for an aesthetic improvement or health upgrade, our skilled dental team here at Gresham Dental Excellence can help you achieve your gum goals.
Have Your Crown Lengthening Procedure Done at Gresham Dental Excellence
Crown lengthening, also known as gum contouring, is a method of repairing uneven gums that are covering too much or too little of your smile. Even if your teeth themselves are fine, uneven gums can cause them to appear misaligned and oddly shaped, distracting others when you speak. Many of our gingival contouring treatments are performed on gums that have receded, making the teeth look overly long, due to gum disease. By removing or adding tissue, we can contour your gums to frame your teeth. You will be able to notice the improvement in your smile right away.
If you are unhappy with the appearance of your smile and are ready to restore your confidence, then you may be a good candidate for crown lengthening. It is time to come see our professionals at Gresham Dental Excellence and learn more about this great restorative option. You can schedule your appointment by calling us at (971) 431-7292. |
