Crown Lengthening in Worcester
Take a look at your smile in a mirror. Most people have just a little if any gum tissue showing when they smile. However, if you see too much gum, then this can detract from the appearance of your smile. This is called excessive gingival display, or more commonly a gummy smile. Fortunately, your periodontist in Worcester offers treatment to gently remove excess gum tissue that exposes more tooth structure. This creates a more balanced smile.
How Does a Gummy Smile Happen?
Having too much gum tissue showing when you smile is usually the result of three main factors. First, your upper teeth may not have come in normally. If this happens, then these teeth may be partially hidden behind excessive gum tissue. Consequently, they will appear to look too short.
Another reason can be hyperactivity of the muscles that control the movement of your upper lip. In this case, your lip may rise too high when you smile, thereby showing too much gum tissue.
Last, the growth and development of your upper jawbone can cause a gummy smile. If the bone protrudes underneath your gums, you may end up with teeth that look stubby or short.
What Constitutes a Balanced Smile?
To determine the proper balance of your smile, the periodontist looks at the smile line. This line constitutes the portion of teeth that show when you smile. Ideally, a smile line should reveal only a little bit of gum tissue if any at all. Gum tissue that is visible when you smile should run evenly along your teeth and be in harmony with your upper lip.
Your smile line is also influenced by:
- The shape and size of your lips
- The muscles in your face
- Size and shape of your teeth
- Gum tissue
How Does Crown Lengthening Treat a Gummy Smile?
If you think you have a gummy smile, then schedule a consultation with the periodontist in Worcester. He will examine your teeth, gum tissue, mouth and lips. Digital X-rays will be needed to see the bone structure underneath your gums. With all of this information, we will be able to determine the extent of your excessive gingival display and recommend treatment.
In many cases, crown lengthening can solve the problem of a gummy smile. Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure to remove excess gum tissue and reveal more of your natural tooth structure. Crown lengthening can be performed on one or several teeth in order to create a more even gum line and more natural looking smile.
This procedure can be performed for cosmetic purposes or to prepare the site for a dental crown restoration.
