Having a gummy smile means that your teeth appear as though they’re too short, but the honest truth is that they only look disfigured and may still be perfectly fine. However, because you’ve got too much plaque-covered gum tissue covering your pearly whites, they look shorter than they really are. Thankfully, a simple periodontal crown lengthening procedure can solve your gummy-shortened smile problem.
So if you have been wondering how to fix your gummy smile, here’s how the dental crown lengthening works to reverse this condition.
Dealing With A Gummy Smile
To start with, let’s take a look at the nature of this dental problem. Your teeth appear too short because you may have extra loose or a receding gum line, or perhaps you simply have a slightly crooked grin. The fact of the matter is that all of these issues are interrelated. That’s why the dental crown lengthening procedure I’m going to explain today makes an essential part of the whole range of dentistry procedures aimed at giving you a perfect smile.
What is Dental Crown Lengthening?
Sometimes referred to as Periodontal Crown Lengthening, this dental procedure involves recontouring the gum tissue and bone around your tooth to create a new gum-to-teeth relationship. Depending on your needs, the dental crown lengthening procedure can be done on a single tooth, multiple teeth, or the entire gum line.
When Do You Need Periodontal Crown Lengthening?
Now, let’s talk about the reason why the periodontal crown lengthening procedure is performed. The crown lengthening procedure can be effectively used if you’re experiencing tooth loss due to the jaw being too weak to support your teeth. In this case, the dentist will extend the gum line as though it were growing back.
The procedure gives your teeth a more balanced appearance and ensures that no sharp edges are showing where the gum meets your tooth. Dentists in the USA also use it to improve the stability of the jaw and provide support when there’s a constraint, such as a denture that’s acting as a bridge, etc.
However, if gum tissue inflammation or damage is responsible for your gummy smile, then you may not need any dental crown lengthening at all. In such cases, the gum tissue may simply shrink back to its standard size, or the periodontist may perform a gum graft in severe cases. In either situation, your gummy smile will slowly go back to normal in due time. However, this isn’t always so simple.
What Does Dental Crown Lengthening Include?
One thing you should know is that the periodontal crown lengthening process is a little more involved than just simply moving the tooth forward. For starters, excess gum tissue has to be taken out carefully, the crown has to be precisely shaped, and the gum line has to be uniformly corrected. Sometimes, it’s not possible to take out enough tissue from the jaw. In such cases, the periodontist has to make a real effort to straighten the crown.
Sometimes, the dental crown lengthening procedure may also involve resetting the teeth and the supporting bones. For this, the periodontist may need to perform root planing or even bone grafting. In the latter case, the periodontist has to use bone from another part of the body. It’s a delicate procedure, but it’s also one that a dentist must do on a regular basis if they want to keep the supporting bone healthy so that the tooth doesn’t slide further down the gum line.
What Are The Side Effects Of Periodontal Crown Lengthening?
One of the most common complications of undergoing a periodontal crown lengthening procedure is that the patient may suffer from slight inflammation. It can happen due to the lack of enough growth restrictions as the gum tissue grows back, and the new growth moves into the open area of the mouth, making the patient feel uncomfortable. In addition, since the gum tissue is so soft, it can swell, making it even more difficult for you to brush and eat.
In order to minimize these risks, dentists in the USA recommend scheduling regular checkups with your periodontist, who will be able to identify any potential hazards to your mouth and then provide you with only the treatment that you need.
Conclusion
So if you’re wondering how to fix your gummy smile, you should know that gum tissue growth is something that occurs in only a few people, usually those who are in their forties or older. However, some people grow extra gum tissue on a regular basis, sometimes even during their teenage years. To avoid this condition in the future, you should learn more about dental crown lengthening, as it is an effective solution for improving your overall dental hygiene.
AUTHOR’S BIO:
In 2015 he received his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Upon receiving his dental degree, he completed a year of advanced training in a General Practice Residency at the UMMC hospital in Jackson, MS.
Dr. Livingston went on to complete his Certificate in Periodontics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
