Crown Lengthening Temple Hills, MD

Enhancing your smile goes beyond simple treatments to whiten or straighten your teeth. Overgrown gums can hide your sexy teeth. The board-certified doctors at MINT dentistry are experienced in performing crown lengthening to improve your oral health and beautify your smile. Despite the name, crown lengthening doesn't actually involve making your teeth longer. A more accurate name would be "crown exposure" as gum tissue is removed to show more enamel, making the tooth appear longer. Your dentist may recommend crown lengthening for cosmetic reasons or as a necessary procedure if not enough of your tooth is visible to hold a restoration or filling. To get more information on how crown lengthening can help improve your oral health and appearance, schedule a consultation at our office in Temple Hills, MD.

Good oral health (especially gum health) is vital for anyone considering crown lengthening. Issues like gum (periodontal) disease need to be treated before crown lengthening is performed. Usually, crown lengthening is a cosmetic treatment to address a "gummy" smile. In these cases, excess gum tissue will be excised to balance the ratio of gums to enamel and give you an even gumline. Crown lengthening might also be required to complete a restoration. Our practitioners may need to reveal more of the tooth to place a filling, crown, or bridge. In your consultation at our state-of-the-art MINT dentistry office, your dental team will assess your condition and medical history to decide if crown lengthening is right for you.

Every appointment at MINT dentistry begins with our caring team making sure you are relaxed and comfortable. Our well-appointed treatment rooms feature Beats headphones, MINT sunglasses, and flat-screen televisions to help you stay relaxed throughout your treatment. Before the treatment starts, a local anesthetic will be used to numb the area. MINT dentistry in Temple Hills, MD also offers many sedation dentistry methods. Your options and recommendations for sedation will be discussed in advance at your consultation. As soon as you are ready, our team will carefully remove small amounts of soft tissue at a time to gradually reveal more enamel and an even gumline. When your crown lengthening procedure is done, we will stop the bleeding by sealing the gum tissue and then rinsing your mouth.

Depending on the type of sedation used for your crown lengthening, you will likely need to make arrangements to have someone ready to take you home from our dental office in Temple Hills, MD. Your mouth will probably feel slightly swollen and a little sore following the procedure. Over-the-counter pain medication and cold compresses can usually be used to reduce your discomfort. For some patients, we may prescribe antibiotics and/or pain medication. It's best to stick to soft, mild food and stay hydrated for the first several days after your treatment. You should clean your teeth with gentle brushing and mouthwash. You should not floss until a team member has determined your gums have healed. A second appointment at our MINT dentistry office will be made so our team can check your recovery.

The amount you can expect to pay for a crown lengthening procedure will depend on several factors, the main one being the reason why you're getting the treatment. Depending on your circumstances and coverage, your dental insurance company may cover part of the cost. Our team will speak to your insurance company to understand the coverage of your policy based on your situation. For patients who don't have dental insurance, we will help estimate your costs during your consultation. We can also give you information on low-interest financing to help make your care fit into your budget. If you do not have dental insurance, ask your dentist for more information on our MINT Discount Plan. At MINT dentistry, we are committed to helping every patient find a way to get sexy teeth.

Give your smile a makeover with a crown lengthening procedure at MINT dentistry in Temple Hills, MD. When you remove overgrown soft tissue, you can fix a "gummy" smile or make sure you have enough visible enamel for a filling or crown. Schedule a consultation with a board-certified doctor at MINT dentistry to find out if your smile could be improved with a cosmetic or restorative crown lengthening procedure.