If you have a “gummy smile”, or excessive gum display when you smile, you may have researched potential treatments and come across esthetic crown lengthening. (Or maybe you haven’t and this is your first time hearing about it.)
Either way, your team at Periodontal Health Center is here to keep you informed on all-things-gums. Let’s dive into esthetic crown lengthening, find out what it is, how it helps, and how it works:
What is esthetic crown lengthening?
Esthetic crown lengthening is a dental procedure that aims to improve the appearance of your smile and improve your gum health by exposing more of your natural teeth. It’s often used to treat a “gummy” smile, or a smile with a lot of gum tissue showing.
This process involves reshaping the gum and bone surrounding the teeth to create a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing smile. Removing excess gum tissue or bone can give the teeth a defined frame and a healthier, brighter appearance.
Crown lengthening procedure: Step-by-step
1. Consultation: We’ll start with an initial consultation at our periodontal office in New Port Richey or Tampa! You’ll meet one of our highly-experienced periodontists who will examine your smile, discuss your needs, and help you determine if esthetic crown lengthening is the best route to reach your goals.
2. Personalized treatment plan: If esthetic crown lengthening is right for you, your periodontist will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs, and discuss what you can expect with the procedure. If you’re having anxiety about the procedure, we can discuss conscious sedation too!
3. Procedure: To prepare for the procedure, we’ll administer local anesthetic to numb the area. Your periodontist will use specialized tools to reshape the gum tissue and/or bone, depending on your specific needs. In some cases, only gum tissue needs to be removed. In other cases, bone may need to be shaved down. Your doctor will then clean your gums and suture them up. The whole procedure averages under an hour!
4. Recovery: For the first few days after the procedure, you’ll want to dedicate some time to healing. Take it easy and avoid physically-demanding activities. It can take two to three months to fully recover. We’ll discuss pain management and provide you with detailed post-op care instructions.
We may schedule a follow-up appointment to ensure that you’re healing properly! Our team is here to guide you through the entire process, answer all of your questions, and do everything we can to help you feel comfortable.
Is esthetic crown lengthening painful?
Because we administer a local anesthetic to your gums, you should not feel pain during the procedure. If you choose IV conscious sedation, you will be conscious and breathing on your own during the procedure but won’t feel a thing.
Once the procedure is over and the anesthetic wears off, you may feel some soreness as your gums heal. We will talk about pain management and give you tips to help you recover as quickly as possible.
Still have questions about esthetic crown lengthening?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. We’d love to help you determine whether esthetic crown lengthening can help you achieve a beautiful, healthy smile.
Our experienced periodontists and friendly team are dedicated to creating a positive and personalized experience for you at every visit.
Ready to achieve a healthy mind and healthy body? Request your consultation with us today.
