Crown Lengthening

Correct your gummy smile with our crown lengthening procedure.

Feel comfortable and confident in your smile with the help of the specialists at Sean P. Avera, DDS, MS.

You don’t have to live with a smile you’re unhappy with. Excess gum tissue may be causing what is commonly known as a gummy smile, giving you a smile that is more gums than teeth. Our Auburn, CA, periodontal team can adjust the amount of gum tissue covering your teeth through crown lengthening, giving you a beautifully balanced smile.

What is a Gummy Smile & Why Correct It?

Bulky gums, or gums that extend too far down the crowns of teeth, cause what is known as a gummy smile. With this condition, there is an imbalance between the amounts of gums and teeth that are showing.

Many people want to correct their gummy smile because they feel self-conscious about their appearance and want their teeth to be the focus. When the appearance of gums and teeth is balanced, the smile looks healthier, and you can feel confident in showing it off.

What is Crown Lengthening?

Crown lengthening involves the removal of gum tissue to expose more of the tooth’s structure. It can provide functional improvement as well as aesthetic.

When a restoration is necessary, we can use crown lengthening to prepare the teeth for the placement of a prosthetic, like a crown or bridge. The procedure adds space between the gum line and the crown of teeth, ensuring that the restoration will fit properly and be comfortable when placed.

We also use crown lengthening as a cosmetic procedure to even out the look of a smile. When extra gum tissue covers the surface of teeth, the teeth look too short and small. Removing excess gum tissue through crown lengthening gives the smile a more balanced look.

The Surgical Process

Our team typically performs crown lengthening using an anesthetic to ensure your comfort during the procedure. The number of teeth affected and the amount of gum tissue to be removed will determine how long your procedure will last.

The surgery itself involves small incisions in your gums, which help give space between the gum line and the teeth, allowing our provider to remove the appropriate amount of tissue. If your gum line requires reshaping, it is likely more of your teeth will be involved, but if we just need to make space for a restoration, we may focus on just a small area of gum tissue.

Crown Lengthening Recovery

Once the team has removed the desired amount of tissue and feels confident in the shape of your gum line, the area will be cleaned and sutured. It’s important to remember that your teeth will not look noticeably different right away due to swelling and repositioning of the tissue.

We may apply a periodontal bandage over the area to protect it during early healing. We may also prescribe a pain medication and an antimicrobial mouthwash to help keep the area clean and reduce any bacteria build-up. Complete healing requires two to three months.

If you’re unhappy with the look of your smile, visit Sean P. Avera, DDS, MS, to learn if crown lengthening can help. Our team can develop a treatment plan to give you a beautiful, healthy-looking smile.

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