Crown Lengthening (Aesthetic and Functional)

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  Crown Lengthening

Aesthetic crown lengthening surgery can be utilized to fix an overly gummy smile or square-ish looking teeth. If you feel that your teeth look too small and your gum tissue takes up too much of your smile, aesthetic crown lengthening may be just the procedure you’re looking for. Functional crown lengthening has been done for years to improve your dental health, but it’s now being used as a cosmetic procedure as well. Aesthetic crown lengthening is a common procedure performed by periodontists such as Dr. Jenkins.

What is Crown Lengthening?

The crown lengthening procedure is a surgical treatment where excess gum tissue and bone tissue is removed from around the teeth in order to improve dental health or the aesthetics of your smile.

In addition to improving overly gummy smiles, this procedure can also fix an uneven gum line, which can help create a more symmetrical smile. Aside from the cosmetic benefits, crown lengthening can also help expose more of a decayed or damaged tooth in order for a crown or other restoration to fit more comfortably and naturally. This type of crown lengthening is known as functional crown lengthening.

What To Expect During Crown Lengthening Surgery

During your crown lengthening surgery, local anesthesia will be used to numb the area. Next, Dr. Jenkins will perform a gingivectomy procedure to remove the excess gum tissue. This will require Dr. Jenkins to make a series of small cuts in the gum tissue and the excess gum tissue will be removed. Afterwards, the gums will be gently pulled away from the teeth to access the bone. Dr. Jenkins will then remove a small amount of bone around the teeth and place the bone at the appropriate level in order to prevent relapse growth of the gum tissue. The gums will then be placed back around the teeth and secured with sutures.

If you’ve always been self-conscious of your smile because of excessive gum tissue or if you’ve suffered from chronic tooth decay problems, crown lengthening may be the right option for you. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Ryan Jenkins, please contact Littleton Implants & Periodontics today. Our office is located in beautiful Littleton, Colorado.