Crown Lengthening | Boerne
Get a Broader, Healthier Smile
If your “gummy” smile or small teeth are causing you to feel self-conscious, crown lengthening at Complete Dental Studio may be right for you.
Crown Lengthening: What It Is
Aesthetic crown lengthening is a cosmetic dental procedure that reshapes your gum tissue and the underlying bone around your teeth.
By removing a small amount of excess gum tissue and/or bone, we can expose more of your tooth’s surface and create a more pleasing, proportionate smile. This procedure can also correct uneven gum lines and improve the appearance of teeth that appear too short.
In some cases, crown lengthening may involve the placement of dental crowns or porcelain veneers to further improve your tooth’s appearance. Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that fit over your entire tooth, while porcelain veneers are thin shells that are bonded to the front of the tooth.
How Crown Lengthening Works
Aesthetic crown lengthening is a safe and effective procedure that can help you get a more symmetrical and confident smile.
When excess gum tissue covers too much of a tooth’s surface, it can create a “gummy” smile, making your teeth appear shorter than they actually are.
Aesthetic crown lengthening can remedy this issue by removing the excess tissue, revealing more of the tooth’s surface, and enhancing the appearance of your smile.
Here’s what you can expect:
Initial Evaluation
During your appointment at Complete Dental Studio with Dr. Alghadban, he’ll evaluate your teeth and gums to determine if you’re a good candidate for the procedure.
He’ll also explain the process in detail and answer any questions you may have so you feel informed and confident in your decision.
Procedure
Our team will perform your procedure under local anesthesia to ensure your comfort. Once we’ve removed the excess gum and bone tissue, we’ll carefully clean and suture the area.
Afterward, we’ll provide you with detailed post-operative instructions to ensure proper healing and minimize the risk of complications.
Recovery
It’ll take some time to fully heal from your crown lengthening procedure. Typically, you can expect a recovery time of about three months.
But that doesn’t mean that you can’t return to your normal daily activities. Most people go back to work or school within two to three days after surgery.
The exception to that would be if your daily tasks involve some amount of physical exertion or heavy lifting. In that case, you might have to wait longer before returning to your normal daily routine.
Results
The results of aesthetic crown lengthening are impressive and can dramatically improve the appearance of your smile.
In addition to the cosmetic benefits, the procedure can also boost your self-confidence and self-esteem. By getting a more attractive smile, you’ll feel more confident in your personal and professional lives.
Crown Lengthening Vs. Gum Contouring
If you’re unhappy with your smile because your gum line comes too far down the surface of your front teeth, you may have a condition commonly referred to as a “gummy smile.”
One of the most effective ways to treat this problem is with gum contouring, where Dr. Alghadban removes a portion of the gum tissue using a laser tool to expose a greater amount of tooth surface.
But if you’re also dissatisfied with the shape of your front teeth, simply removing excess gum tissue will not resolve the problem.
Aesthetic crown lengthening not only involves removing gum tissue but also recontours the bone tissue and improves the shape and/or length of your teeth, often in preparation for veneers or crowns.
Is Crown Lengthening Right for You?
Crown lengthening can improve your oral health, but the majority of people choose this procedure to improve the appearance of their smiles. If you have a “gummy smile” but otherwise have good oral and overall health, you’re probably a good candidate for this procedure.
Your dentist may recommend you for a crown lengthening for more than cosmetic reasons. Excess gum tissue can conceal other dental problems, such as damaged or decayed teeth.
In these circumstances, your dentist may recommend crown lengthening to resolve those oral health issues.