There are many reasons people seek to recontour their gums. One of the main reasons is that people are dissatisfied with the appearance of their “gummy smile” and feel less confident showing their smiles. Another involves needing more room to have a dental restoration placed, such as a bridge or crown. Whether you need gum recontouring done for dental or cosmetic reasons, here at Claire Cho DDS, Aliso Viejo, California, Dr. Claire Cho can help with a safe and effective gummy smile dental procedure called “crown lengthening” that will make your smile more beautiful.
Crown lengthening, also known as “soft tissue recontouring” or “gum lift,” is a cosmetic dental procedure that reshapes your gum line to create a more symmetrical look and also reduces the amount of gum tissue covering your teeth by increasing the length of the portion of your tooth crown shown in your smile.
This restoration is also helpful for patients with oral health issues such as decayed teeth or gum disease below the gum line. During the crown lengthening procedure, Dr. Cho will remove the excess bone and gum tissue, exposing more of the tooth crown. The result may improve the health of your gums while protecting them from further decay while restoring your smile’s natural appearance.
To correct your gummy smile, the procedure involves using local anesthesia to ensure your comfort during the treatment. After thoroughly numbing the area, Dr. Cho will make tiny, precise incisions to separate the excess gum tissue from your teeth. For a few patients, she may also need to remove some bone tissue to create more room for a dental restoration or a more natural appearance.
After removing the excess gum tissue, she will then sterilize the treatment area before placing sutures and a special bandage over the area that will promote proper healing while the gums begin reattaching to your teeth.
First, we will need to schedule your follow-up visit, usually a week or two after the procedure, to inspect your recovery progress and remove your sutures.
Most patients find themselves healed between six to eight weeks following their procedure.
After the gums fully heal, we can place any final dental restorations, such as veneers, bridges, or crowns.
To find out more information about the crown lengthening treatment for a gummy smile, call Claire Cho, DDS, at (949) 541-2529.
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