What Is Crown Lengthening and How Can It Help?

Ideally, you should only show a small amount of gum tissue when you smile or talk but some people have what is called a gummy smile. Sometimes this may be due to an overactive lip muscle pulling up the upper lip, but most frequently it is caused by too much gum tissue, covering up teeth which are exactly the right length underneath. Removing the excess gum tissue will create a more aesthetically pleasing smile. Occasionally this treatment is also used when preparing teeth for crowns or veneers, especially if a tooth has broken off near the gum line as uncovering more of the broken tooth helps to ensure treatment is more successful.

Diagnosing and Correcting a Gummy Smile Using Laser Dentistry

A consultation with our dentist will soon determine the reason for your gummy smile and we can generally correct this problem using laser dentistry. After carefully planning exactly how much gum tissue must be removed, our dentist will use a dental laser to uncover your teeth, gently shaping your gums so they nicely frame your smile. Laser dentistry is an extremely effective way to treat a gummy smile because it is very precise, there are fewer side-effects and healing is quicker and more comfortable.