Crown Lengthening

The clinical crown is the portion of the tooth that is exposed above the gum line. For some people, there is excess gum tissue that hides a portion of the tooth. This can create a “gummy smile” and may affect the ability to perform certain dental treatments. Clinical crown lengthening can be a cosmetic dentistry solution to reduce gum tissue. It exposes more of the tooth to improve a gummy smile or access more of the tooth for dental treatments. At Sapphire Creek Dental, we offer crown lengthening at our office in New Braunfels, TX, for smile enhancements and tooth repairs.

When there is not enough tooth exposed above the gums, your smile can look unbalanced. There appears to be more gum than teeth, and the gum line may be irregular. This can also cause issues when a dental crown needs to be placed. There needs to be enough of the clinical crown exposed to adhere the crown. It is not possible to make the teeth longer, but the gum line can be changed with clinical crown lengthening. This can expose more of the hidden tooth to improve the appearance of the smile and allow for certain dental treatments to be performed.

Fixing a Gummy Smile

To perform crown lengthening, a local anesthetic is used to numb the gums. At Sapphire Creek Dental, we also offer sedation options, if it is preferred by the patient. During the procedure, gum tissue is carefully removed with a laser to expose more of the tooth’s surface. The gum line is sculpted to achieve an even, balanced smile that shows more teeth and less gum tissue. The procedure usually takes less than an hour, and there is minimal recovery needed after the treatment. The gums will be tender, but they will heal quickly over the next few days, resulting in a more attractive smile.

If you are unhappy with your smile due to the amount of gum tissue exposed, clinical crown lengthening may be a solution. If you live in Seguin or New Braunfels, TX, contact Sapphire Creek Dental today to schedule your appointment. We offer many cosmetic dental treatments, as well as restoration and general dentistry.