Many patients struggle with a smile that shows a disproportionate amount of gum to teeth. While a “gummy smile” is not a medical problem, many people choose to address it for aesthetic reasons. With aesthetic crown lengthening your gums are carefully contoured in order to reveal more of your tooth. This creates a more pleasing gum to tooth ratio and offers an instant and dramatic change to your smile.
Call Marketplace dentistry today to learn if aesthetic crown lengthening is right for you.
What to Expect from Aesthetic Crown Lengthening Surgery
Fluoride treatments come in several forms including gels, foam, and varnish.
While the application is different, each only takes a few minutes and is painless.
During the procedure, your gums are temporarily lifted away from your teeth and surgically trimmed before being disinfected and reattached.
In most cases, this entire process should only take around an hour though this may be more or less depending on how many teeth need to be recontoured.
Though the procedure is invasive, a local anesthetic is often enough for most patients to feel comfortable. However, you may choose dental sedation to further minimize discomfort during and after the procedure. This is often a better choice for anyone who suffers from anxiety or will have difficulty staying still during the procedure.
Aesthetic crown lengthening may sound painful but the use of anesthetics around the gum line eliminates pain during the procedure. After the procedure, you will also be prescribed pain management drugs in order to better manage any discomfort.
Recovery from Crown Lengthening
Generally, you will only need a few days of rest after the procedure before you can safely return to normal activity. If you have a highly physical job, you may need a few additional days.
For full healing and recovery, you can expect up to three months of gum sensitivity though most will abate in the first two weeks. This should not affect your ability to eat or do other activities and will improve over time.
To help minimize this sensitivity and promote healing, you may need to avoid foods that are extremely hot or cold for the first few weeks. Additionally, brushing and flossing in the affected area should be avoided for several days.
You may also notice some temporary bleeding of the gums. This is normal and not a cause for concern.
Who is a Good Candidate for Crown Lengthening?
Crown lengthening is a low risk procedure that is safe for most patients. However, the best candidates for this will have overall good health, especially oral health. If you have gum disease or other issues of decay, these will need to be addressed before the surgery can occur. Other medical conditions and medications that slow healing or increase bleeding will also need to be considered.
Schedule Your Aesthetic Crown Lengthening & Gum Recontouring Consultation
Fix your gummy smile with gum recontouring from Marketplace Dentistry. Schedule a consultation to learn if this procedure is right for you.
Call today for appointment times.
