Say Goodbye to Your Gummy Smile with Crown Lengthening

A beautiful smile can light up a room, but you may keep your smile under cover if you’re self-conscious about showing too much gum when you grin.

Fortunately, there’s a solution that can help you achieve a more balanced and pleasing smile — crown lengthening. 

At St. Tammany Periodontics & Implants, our team of Dr. Caesar Sweidan and Dr. Laura Smith specialize in crown lengthening and can transform your smile in a flash. Thanks to the advanced technology behind dental laser therapy, we can reshape your gumline with a relatively quick, quiet, and comfortable procedure. 

What is a gummy smile?

A gummy smile is when too much gum tissue is visible above your upper teeth when you smile. Technically, it’s called “excessive gingival display,” but whatever name you use, it still means you’re self-conscious about your smile. 

While there’s no universally accepted definition of how much gum exposure constitutes a gummy smile, most dentists and patients consider 2 millimeters or more of visible gum a cosmetic problem. 

Several factors can contribute to a gummy smile:

Excessive gum tissue

Some people naturally have more gum tissue covering their teeth, which can make their teeth appear shorter.

Short upper lip

A shorter upper lip might rise higher when you smile, revealing more gum tissue.

Teeth development

If your teeth didn’t fully emerge from your gums during childhood, it could result in a gummy appearance.

While a gummy smile isn’t usually a medical concern, it can affect your self-esteem. 

Does crown lengthening hurt?

Crown lengthening is a simple dental procedure during which we remove excess gum tissue, and sometimes bone, to expose more of the tooth’s surface to create a more proportionate and aesthetically pleasing smile. 

Reshaping  gums and removing bone tissue sounds uncomfortable,  but not with our innovative laser therapy. We replace old-school scalpels and drills with the power of focused light energy to remove unwanted tissue quickly and precisely. 

Here are just a few of the advantages of our expert laser therapy:

Precision

Lasers allow us to remove gum tissue precisely, minimizing damage to surrounding areas.

Reduced bleeding

Lasers cauterize blood vessels as they work, resulting in less bleeding and a cleaner surgical field.

Faster healing

Laser therapy promotes faster healing and reduces postoperative discomfort.

Some patients report mild discomfort after the procedure, which they manage with pain relievers. Any swelling or sensitivity usually subsides within a few days.

Is crown lengthening worth it?

Crown lengthening can certainly make your smile more attractive, but it isn’t just about aesthetics; it offers several benefits for your oral health as well.

More dazzling smile

Smile transformation is, by far, the top reason people opt for crown lengthening. Removing excess gum tissue gives you a more balanced and symmetrical smile, boosting your confidence and self-esteem.

Better oral hygiene

The lesser known benefits of crown lengthening — like easier and better oral hygiene — are no less impressive. 

Excessive gum tissue can make it difficult to clean teeth properly, increasing your risk of gum disease and tooth decay. Crown lengthening exposes more of the tooth's surface, making brushing and flossing more effective.

Supporting role

In some cases, crown lengthening is necessary to prepare a tooth for a dental restoration. By exposing more of the tooth, we ensure there’s enough structure to support the restoration, improving its longevity and functionality.

Prevention of future dental problems

Removing excess gum tissue can also prevent the development of periodontal pockets, which are spaces that can form between your teeth and gums where bacteria can accumulate. 

A gummy smile doesn't have to hold you back from smiling confidently. Crown lengthening is a safe, effective procedure that can transform your smile by removing excess gum tissue and exposing more of your teeth. 

Say goodbye to your gummy smile and hello to a more confident you. Call us at St. Tammany Periodontics & Implants in Slidell or Covington, Louisiana.