Crown Lengthening South Holland, IL

Attaining a stunning smile sometimes involves more than whitening treatments or teeth straightening. Overgrown gums can hide your sexy teeth. The board-certified doctors at MINT dentistry are experienced in crown lengthening to improve your smile and oral health. Despite its name, crown lengthening does not actually involve making your teeth longer. A clearer term would be "tooth exposure," since gum tissue is removed to show more of the tooth, making it appear longer. We may recommend crown lengthening to improve the appearance of your smile or to expose more enamel so your tooth can support a tooth-colored filling or restoration (like a crown). To find out if crown lengthening could improve your oral health and appearance, contact us to schedule a consultation with a board-certified team member at MINT dentistry in South Holland, IL.

Crown lengthening treatment is intended for patients who have a healthy mouth, particularly the gums. Gum disease and other periodontal conditions need to be treated first before crown lengthening can be scheduled. Typically, crown lengthening is performed for cosmetic reasons to correct a smile that shows too much of the gums. Excess gum tissue can be excised to improve the ratio of gums to enamel and give you an even gumline. However, crown lengthening might also be needed to perform a restoration. We might recommend crown lengthening to expose more enamel to have enough room for a tooth-colored filling, bridge, or crown. During a consultation at our well-appointed MINT dentistry facility, a board-certified dental professional will evaluate your oral health to determine if crown lengthening will help meet your aesthetic goals.

Just like every appointment you have at MINT dentistry, your crown lengthening procedure will begin with our experienced team making sure you are comfortable and ready to proceed. Our advanced treatment rooms feature flat-screen televisions, Beats headphones, and MINT sunglasses to help you stay relaxed during your procedure. Before the treatment starts, we will numb your gum tissue with a local anesthesia. MINT dentistry in South Holland, IL also offers many sedation dentistry choices. These options will be reviewed at your initial consultation. After you are ready, your doctor will slowly and carefully excise small amounts of soft tissue, revealing more of your teeth and an even gumline. Once the procedure is complete, your dentist will stop any bleeding by sealing your gum tissue.

You should plan to have a friend or family member bring you home after your procedure, as based on the sedation used, you may feel too groggy to safely drive. Your mouth will probably feel sore and swollen following crown lengthening. Cold compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers can usually be used to reduce your discomfort. In some cases, your dentist may write you a prescription for pain medication and/or antibiotics. We recommend you eat a soft food diet and drink lots of water after crown lengthening. You should carefully clean your mouth with gentle brushing and mouthwash. Avoid flossing until your dentist tells you it's safe. A follow-up appointment at MINT dentistry should be made so our team can check to see that your gums are healing properly.

Insurance coverage for crown lengthening treatments can vary based on the primary reason why the procedure is being performed. Dental insurance providers may cover part of your costs in some situations. We will contact your provider to understand the coverage of your policy based on your situation. If you don't have dental insurance, the MINT dentistry support staff will help estimate your costs in your consultation. We can also give you information on financing to help make your dental treatments fit into your budget. If you don't have dental insurance and need help affording your dental care, ask your dentist for more information on the MINT Discount Plan. MINT dentistry is happy to help find ways for our valued patients to get their best smile.

Find your confidence and unveil your best smile with crown lengthening treatment at MINT dentistry in South Holland, IL. By removing excess gum tissue, you can fix the appearance of a "gummy" smile or get your teeth ready for a restoration like a tooth-colored filling or crown. Contact us to schedule a consultation with a member of the MINT dentistry team to find out if you can benefit from a restorative or cosmetic crown lengthening procedure.