Crown lengthening, also known as a gum lift, is generally performed by the doctor in order to improve the health of the gum tissue, or to prepare the mouth for restorative or cosmetic procedures. For instance, if you’re bothered by a “gummy” smile or teeth that you feel are too small, crown lengthening can be a great option.
For years, crown lengthening, which exposes more of your natural teeth by reshaping or recontouring bone and gum tissue, has been used by periodontists as a technique to improve oral health, but the procedure has gained notoriety as a way to improve our patients’ smiles cosmetically. Let’s take a look at three main reasons why the doctor would recommend crown lengthening:
- Restoring damaged teeth: Gum disease, tooth decay, and trauma can all cause severe damage to your teeth. Crown lengthening is used to prepare the area for a new restoration to treat the damaged teeth.
- Dental crowns: Another purpose crown lengthening serves is to allow more space between your jawbone and dental crown. This technique prevents the new crown from damaging surrounding gum tissues and bone once the doctor and our team put it in place.
- Cosmetic purposes: The third reason why we provide crown lengthening is to remove excessive gum tissue that makes teeth look unnaturally short, as well as makes you vulnerable to periodontal infections. Reducing the amount of extra gum tissue can not only prevent periodontal disease, but also improve the aesthetic appearance of your smile.
To learn more about crown lengthening, or to schedule an appointment at our convenient Hilton Head Island, South Carolina office.