Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry

Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a simple, non-invasive dental procedure to remove excessive gum tissue and sometimes even bone around a tooth. This procedure exposes more of the natural tooth, and the treatment may be performed for a variety of reasons.

The crown lengthening procedure might be necessary for a few different situations. You might have too much gum tissue covering your teeth and would like to balance the proportions to frame a healthier smile. Or we could find it beneficial to remove some of the bone as well as the gum tissue, visually lengthening the crown of the tooth to make it look more aesthetically pleasing.

Your compassionate team at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is wholly committed to providing you, your family, and every patient with comprehensive periodontal care that improves your oral health and daily function. We pride ourselves on offering a safe, comfortable, and relaxing environment to ensure all patients receive the personalized care and treatment that is expected and deserved. You will find us to excel in effective communications, both in listening and sharing examination objectives. With our initiative-taking engagement in the dental industry and the constant innovative technological improvements offered, each exam and corresponding treatment is completely personalized. Call Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry at 502-570-5700 with any questions or to make an appointment for a crown lengthening evaluation.

Are You a Candidate for Crown Lengthening?

If you are not satisfied with your gummy smile, you might be a candidate for this procedure. Excessive gum tissue or an uneven gum line can negatively affect your perception of your smile. Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry can reshape or correct the contour of your gum line to remove excess gum tissue and visually increase the length of your teeth.

Most often, it is an aesthetic issue, but if you do have a gummy smile, you may also have an underlying issue. A gummy smile might be the result of how your jawbone was initially developed. If your upper jawbone appears to bulge out, it can give you a gummy smile. This cannot be prevented initially, but it could result in improper alignment and therefore affect your long-term health.

Another cause for a gummy smile is an overactive upper lip. The muscles that are responsible for this part of your mouth pull your upper lip higher than it should. While this movement does not mean you have a gummy smile, it can still give the illusion that you do. This issue can also be treated with this procedure.

What Is the Procedure for Crown Lengthening?

The team at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry will examine your mouth, teeth, and gums to determine the extent of the gum issue. We can use either a digital or traditional form of an impression to help decide which treatment is best for you. An X-ray will be taken so we can identify any unhealthy jawbone or tooth roots that we cannot see with the naked eye. This examination is essential to ensure you have good oral health and have an adequate amount of healthy jawbone and tooth roots prior to the procedure being performed. Our best results are always from a well-orchestrated plan.

The trained staff at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry will next introduce you to the dental laser. The laser is specifically pinpointed directly at the gum tissue to be removed. This laser produces no heat or vibration, resulting in painless and amazingly easy treatment. The laser offers a second benefit, as it will immediately seal up all blood vessels, resulting in less bleeding or swelling.

During your crown lengthening procedure, we easily remove any excessive gum, bone tissue, and reshape your gumline to expose more of your natural teeth. This crown lengthening procedure can be done in a matter of minutes.

The Crown Lengthening Healing Process

Total healing is expected to be completed in just a few days if the gum area treated is minimal. If the treatment is more extensive, the healing will be slightly longer. It is not necessary to change your activity level or to adjust your diet to quicken the healing. You can begin eating softer foods and return to normal activities the day after your crown lengthening procedure. You should come back for a follow-up visit 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure.

During your crown lengthening recovery, Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry will provide you with instructions on how to monitor your gumline. When the anesthesia wears off, you may feel some discomfort, and if necessary, we can prescribe pain relievers.

Crown Lengthening Treatment Cost

As with so many dental procedures, the final cost for your crown lengthening treatment is affected by several factors, like the severity of your case, the number of appointments, whether anesthesia is involved, and what type of insurance plan you have. We will provide you with a more accurate estimate after your initial evaluation.

Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry accepts most dental insurance policies, and we will submit a pre-treatment estimate to your insurance plan, so you know the extent of coverage. If you do not have insurance coverage or are concerned about the cost, we will be happy to share and review other financial arrangements with you.

Your Smile is Our Number One Priority

Our treatment philosophy at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is focused on patient education and the enhancement of your quality of life. We provide gentle, affordable, and painless periodontal care. We prioritize providing each patient with the information needed to make confident, informed decisions regarding their personal oral health treatment. Our experience is foundational in giving you restoratively minded periodontal treatment customized for your unique needs.

Our team specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease and in the placement of dental implants. We consider ourselves experts in the treatment of oral inflammation. We have received extensive education and training in these areas. We are familiar with the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, and we are also trained in performing cosmetic periodontal procedures.

You can find Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry at:

107 Frazier Ct., 1D, Georgetown, KY

Or call us today at 502-570-5700