Crown lengthening is a procedure that exposes a greater amount of tooth structure and makes a tooth appear longer. There are two situations in which Dr. Edwards performs a crown lengthening…tooth restoration or "gummy smile" correction. Cosmetic crown lengthening has become more popular than ever before especially now that more Americans are living longer and aging more gracefully with the help of plastic surgery. Periodontal plastic surgery has also felt this trend as it has experienced a significant shift toward cosmetic-related surgery to help make smiles last a lifetime.
A recent poll of 253 consumers conducted by the American Academy of Periodontology found the following:
- 50 percent consider the smile the first facial feature they notice
- 80 percent are not happy with their smile
- Respondents were seven times more likely to have periodontal, smile enhancement procedures, than face-lifts
- Smile enhancement procedures outnumbered eyelid surgeries five to one
Gummy Smile or Uneven Gum Line
You have probably seen people with what you would consider short teeth, or a "gummy" smile. While it may appear that their teeth are shorter than normal, it's often just a case of teeth being hidden behind the gums. By repositioning the gum line, you can improve your smile and the contours of your face. Do you feel your teeth look too short and your smile is too gummy or your gums cover too much of some teeth while leaving the others the right length? Although your teeth appear short, they may actually be the proper length. The teeth may be covered with too much gum tissue. We can correct this by performing the periodontal plastic surgery procedure, crown lengthening.
During this procedure, excess gum tissue is removed to expose more of the crown of the tooth. After the gum tissue is nestled back, its position is contoured to form a better position on the tooth--your gumline is sculpted to give your new smile just the right look. These procedures are a predictable way to cover unsightly, sensitive or exposed root surfaces and to prevent future gum recession. For most patients, crown lengthening won't require any additional post-operative care and any slight pain can be easily managed with Ibuprofen. While crown lengthening patients can return to work and begin eating soft foods the day after surgery, full recovery and healing of the gum tissue generally takes one or two weeks.
If you are unhappy with the appearance of short unsightly teeth this can be greatly improved by a combination of periodontal procedures by Dr. Edwards and cosmetic dentistry by your dentist. One of the major advantages of crown lengthening is that it can often be completed in one visit with a simple anesthetic. Essentially, the excessive gum tissue that is hiding your teeth is removed to expose the normal length of the tooth.
With crown lengthening, you'll benefit from:
- enhanced teeth that no longer look short or like "baby teeth"
- a much more attractive smile
- an improved self-image and more self-confidence
- a relatively quick healing period with little pain
- visible results in as little as one week from surgery
Aside from the esthetic benefits of crown lengthening, correcting a "gummy" smile can also improve your overall periodontal health. When gum tissue does not recede normally as adult teeth appear, pockets can form in the gums, which can result in advanced periodontal disease. By contouring the gums through crown lengthening, you can not only improve the look and confidence of your smile, but also prevent future problems.