February 23, 2016

There are a lot of reasons someone might not be happy with his or her smile and seek cosmetic dentistry in New London, CT. Some people have teeth that are crooked, or a little discolored from one too many cups of coffee over the years. Other people show too much gum and too little tooth when they smile. The preferred gummy smile treatment is not braces or retainers, but rather a non-invasive surgical procedure called crown lengthening.

 

What Is Crown Lengthening?

In the crown lengthening procedure, the gum tissue is peeled back from the base of the tooth, exposing more of the enamel. This procedure is most often associated with preparations for putting in dental implants, but it can also have aesthetic uses. The procedure can be done with lasers or with hand-held instruments.

 

How Can It Improve Your Smile?

Removing a small amount of gum tissue can reduce the appearance of a gummy smile by making the teeth appear more prominent. In general, only a little gum tissue needs to be removed in order to see results. This is because increasing the ratio between tooth and gum that is visible creates the illusion of more teeth.

 

What To Expect from the Procedure?

The crown lengthening procedure is generally done under local anesthesia while the patient is awake. Cuts are made along the gums that allow the tissue to be pulled away from the tooth. Once the tissue is free, the dentist can make cuts and remove the excess. After the tissue has been removed, the gums are stitched back together.

 

Benefits of Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is relatively quick and pain free. It can generally be completed in a couple of hours. Since general anesthesia isn’t used, the patient can usually go home the same day. While patients can expect to feel some soreness for a few days, recovery generally takes no more than a week.

 

To find out more about a crown lengthening gummy smile treatment or other type of cosmetic dentistry in New London, CT, contact Dr. Gregory Toback at (860) 333-1531.

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