Gum Contouring, Gummy Smile, Esthetic Crown Lengthening
Gum contouring is a simple dental procedure that reshapes or sculptures your gumline. The process of gum contouring focuses on removing excess gum tissue around your teeth. Quite often, gum contouring is an elective procedure that addresses excessive gums and or bone that are covering the enamel over the teeth. This means that it is not medically necessary for your health. Instead, it is done electively to improve the look of the gums, teeth, and the proportional balance of your smile. You can think of the gums as the frame for a beautiful and well balanced smile.
When you smile, does it appear that your upper teeth are out of balance with excessive gum tissue. Do your upper teeth seem too short relative to the amount of gingival tissue visible when you smile? If the proportions are indeed off, you may have a condition that is called a gummy smile, or excessive gingival display.
A gummy smile can have a negative effect on the perception of your smile. But a gummy smile can be easily corrected through several treatment options, one being gum contouring.
The entire team at Dr. Crystal Dental radiates compassion and enthusiasm. Every member embraces your individual comfort and dental needs. We seek balance in our practice, our procedures, and your health. You will find your entire dental experience with us comforting from start to finish. We balance exceptional, personalized dental care with state-of-the-art equipment and technology. Call us today at 440-974-4449 to schedule your appointment for an evaluation regarding gum contouring or if you might have a gummy smile. You can conveniently find us at 7223 Center Street, Mentor, Ohio, 44060.
An attractive smile is more than just straight, white teeth, but also the proper ratio between the teeth and the gums displayed. A gummy smile reveals more gum than is considered visibly desirable. If your gummy smile bothers you, gum contouring can create a more aesthetically pleasing ratio between your teeth and gums allowing you to enjoy your invaluable asset, your smile.
Dr. Crystal
Dr. Crystal is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University, School of Dental Medicine and went on to receive training at one of the most prestigious dental residencies in the nation, The Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital Advanced Education in General Dentistry in San Antonio, TX.
Inform & Educate
We empower you to make wise, well-informed decisions for your oral health through patient education and individual consultation. We do this through the modern technology we offer. Our digital x-rays are equipped with special cavity-detecting software, and we also utilize an intraoral camera to show you what we see in your mouth. We also make sure to stay up-to-date on your medical history, current medications and any other factors that might affect your dental health and treatment.
Insurance & Billing
We are an insurance-friendly office, so please call us about your plan. We will do our best to assist you in maximizing your benefits. At your first visit to our Mentor dental practice, we will ask you for your current insurance information. We may ask you to confirm this information at subsequent visits so we can stay up-to-date and fully informed to serve you. As a courtesy to you, we file all claim forms electronically, provide postage for special claims, and we track claims for you.
Some Causes of a Gummy Smile
A gummy smile does not mean there is anything functionally wrong with your teeth or gums. The ratio between the gums and the teeth is a visual issue, and it is a problem only if you perceive it to be. However, it may be the result of your teeth not emerging properly from the gums, a condition called delayed passive eruption. It might also happen if your upper lip pulls back farther than normal when you smile.
Your smile can also appear gummy if your teeth are proportionally small or have become severely worn down. Proper correction begins with proper diagnosis. Dr. Crystal Dental can correct your gummy smile with gum contouring that will alter your gum-line with minimal downtime. Here are a few examples of some causes:
- Your upper jawbone developed abnormally causing the appearance of a gummy smile. If there is an excessive bulging protrusion of the upper jaw within the gum tissue, you would experience an obvious gummy appearance during your smile.
- An excessive display of gum tissue with your upper arch might be the result from an abnormal eruption of your teeth. Teeth that are covered by excessive gum tissue will look shorter, even though they are the proper length.
- The muscle that controls your upper lip is hyperactive, which will cause your upper lip to lift higher than normal. With this higher lip movement more of your gums are exposed when you smile.
Is It Just an Aesthetic Problem?
The aesthetic zone, or smile line, which are the teeth that show when you smile, is determined by several contributing factors:
- The size and shape of your teeth.
- Your gum tissues involved.
- The shape and size of your lips.
- Your facial muscles.
The ideal smile line appearance should reveal some gum tissue. Your gum tissue visible with your smile line should also have a balanced, even contour line that is harmonious with your upper lip.
More serious underlying dental conditions may still be present. If you have a gummy smile from how the teeth erupted and how your jaw developed, you could also have an uncomfortable or improper bite that could impact your long-term oral health.
The Gum Contouring Procedure
If you think you may have a gummy smile, visit Dr. Crystal Dental for an evaluation, diagnosis, and to discuss your unique treatment options. Research has shown that smiles are attractive when two millimeters or less of gum tissue is exposed. With three millimeters or more, the smile is considered to be a gummy smile and if a patient finds that is not aesthetically desirable, it can be changed. Our team will examine your mouth, teeth, and gums to measure and determine the extent of the excessive gingival display and the possible causes. This exam might include standard or digital impressions of your teeth and gums. We may also need to take X-rays so that your tooth roots and jawbone can be carefully examined.
Gum contouring is performed in our office comfortably and with minimal downtime. Our team might use a surgical scalpel or a dental laser to perform your gum contouring procedure based on your case.
Before your treatment, we will go over what we will be doing during the procedure, including how to care for the site after the procedure has been completed. If desired, digital smile mock ups can be performed to how you what can be done to improve your smile with gum recontouring.
To begin, we will administer a local anesthetic to numb the immediate area. Occasionally, the bone at the front of the tooth's root must also be removed during gum contouring to get the best long-term results. During your procedure, Dr. Crystal Dental will usually use a soft tissue laser or scalpel to remove excess gum tissue and recontour the gumline to expose more of the teeth. Sutures might be used to hold the gum tissue in place. The length of the procedure will vary depending on the extent of the contouring and the amount of gum contouring that is needed. Usually, gum contouring takes from 1 to 2 hours.
The American Academy of Periodontology states that the benefits of a gum contouring treatment most often include increased comfort, improved self-esteem and self-confidence when smiling, eating, and speaking, as well as improved periodontal health.
Comprehensive Dentistry
Comprehensive dentistry with Dr. Crystal Schneider, involves the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the teeth, gums and jaw. She believes that preventive care is the most important aspect of comprehensive dentistry. Dr. Schneider aims to identify and treat problems while they’re still small, which can save you time, money and more extensive dental treatment.
Cosmetic Dentistry
An attractive smile can boost your confidence, help you make better first impressions on others, and improve your personal and professional life. We provide several cosmetic dental treatments that can subtly enhance your smile, and there are many other more dramatic treatments, often called “smile makeovers,” that can give you the smile of your dreams.
Specialized Dentistry
Missing teeth can take the joy out of the everyday things we love, from smiling and talking with confidence to eating our favorite foods. All of these things can become easier again with specialized dental care. Dr. Schneider offers advanced treatments that will not just restore your smile to its former health – they’ll make it look and feel even better than before!
Our Devotion to Family Dentistry is Unparalleled
Our attention to detail is second to none. Either when it comes to your personalized dental care or the array of amenities in the relaxing comfort of our office. The entire team at Dr. Crystal Dental goes the extra mile in providing communication and consultation, realizing that we collectively are committed to developing long lasting relationships with every patient. We find gratification in life changing healthy smiles. Call us now at 440-974-4449 to make an appointment to evaluate if you might benefit from gum contouring for a possible gummy smile. Our office is located at 7223 Center Street, Mentor, Ohio, 44060.