Here’s How Gum Contouring and Crown Lengthening Can Balance Your Smile
Balance Your Smile
Do you think your smile could use a little change? Maybe you’re hoping you can make your smile look more balanced. If that’s the case, you may want to schedule a consultation with Great Falls’ Dr. Stephen J. Spencer to talk about gum contouring and crown lengthening. These are both cosmetic dental treatments that can help balance out your smile. Read on to learn more if these procedures are what you are looking for to help balance out your smile.
What is gum contouring?
If you think you have a gummy smile, or a smile that shows too much of your gums, gum contouring can reshape your gumline. This cosmetic dental procedure involves the use of a scalpel or laser to cut away at your gums to reshape them and show more of the tooth. Your dentist will expertly contour your gums to elongate the look of your teeth and help to balance out your smile. This procedure can also help to make your teeth look more symmetrical.
While some people choose to undergo this procedure to help balance out their smiles, gum contouring can also be done for hygienic reasons. Removing extra gum tissue can make it easier for people to brush their teeth, as there isn’t as much tissue for bacteria to hide in. This can also help someone brush and floss more easily, keeping their teeth and gums cleaner.
What is crown lengthening?
A dental crown covers a tooth that has been chipped or damaged. The dental crown is often used in cosmetic dentistry because it can restore a damaged tooth, but also hide and cover the tooth completely. Thanks to advances in dental technology, there are multiple materials that a dental crown can be made of, and dental crowns can be custom made to look just like your natural teeth, so no one will know!
Dental crown lengthening is a procedure that makes the tooth’s surface longer so that your dentist can securely add a dental crown to your tooth. The procedure involves your dentist cutting a section of the gum to expose more of the tooth, and shaving down bone to expose more surface, if necessary. The procedure is done to get enough area exposed to provide a large enough surface area for your dentist to adhere a dental crown to.
What are the benefits?
There are many benefits to gum contouring and crown lengthening procedures. Patients often choose one of these procedures to help achieve a more balanced and proportionate smile. Removing some of the gum tissue can expose more of the tooth, making your smile look less gummy.
Another reason someone may choose one of these procedures is for the health benefits. Hygienically, removing part of the gum tissue can make it easier to brush the tooth. It also removes excess gum tissue, which is where bacteria can hide and cause inflamed gums if a person’s oral health habits aren’t up to par. These dental procedures can also help prepare teeth for future dental restorations if needed.
What to Expect During Treatment
If you are going to have gum contouring or crown lengthening procedures at Dr. Spencer’s office, you’ll first start with a consultation. Dr. Spencer will talk about your options and use digital imaging to map out your mouth and a plan for treatment. Together, you will come up with an individualized plan to help you achieve the balanced smile you so desire. When the time comes, your treatment will be done in our Great Falls office, using specialized tools to help Dr. Spencer give your gums the perfect shape. There is minimal downtime with these procedures, and you’ll go home the same day.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
If you are interested in gum contouring or crown lengthening to help balance out a gummy smile, contact Great Falls, Montana, dentist Dr. Stephen J. Spencer. Dr. Spencer has worked with many patients who have chosen one of these procedures to help them achieve a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing smile. While these are cosmetic dental procedures, they do not require major dental reconstruction, meaning you’ll be in and out of the office in just a couple of hours, and back to participating in your daily activities in just a few days.
If you want to learn more about gum contouring or crown lengthening as a way to balance and reshape your smile, give Dr. Spencer’s office a call today to schedule a consultation. We can’t wait to see you!
