Crown Lengthening in Hammond, LA

Getting that beautiful smile you dream of is not always as simple as a few cosmetic treatments, like home or laser teeth whitening. Excess gum tissue can make it difficult to show off your sexy smile. The board-certified doctors at MINT dentistry are skilled in crown lengthening to boost your oral health and smile. Crown lengthening (despite the name) doesn't actually involve making the tooth itself longer. A clearer term would be "crown exposure" since excess tissue is eliminated to show more enamel, making it look longer. We may suggest crown lengthening to improve the appearance of your smile or to expose more enamel so your tooth can support a filling, crown, or other restoration. To get more information on how crown lengthening can improve your oral health and appearance, schedule an initial consultation with a board-certified team member at MINT dentistry in Hammond, LA.

Good candidates for crown lengthening should have healthy gums. Gum disease and other periodontal conditions should be addressed first and then crown lengthening can be scheduled. Most often, crown lengthening is performed for cosmetic reasons to correct a "gummy" smile. Excess gum tissue will be excised to balance the ratio of visible enamel to gums for a higher, more even gumline. Crown lengthening might also be required to perform a restoration. We might recommend crown lengthening to reveal more enamel to place a filling, bridge, or crown. In your consultation at our well-appointed MINT dentistry facility, a board-certified dentist will assess your oral health and medical history to determine if crown lengthening fits your needs and goals.

Your crown lengthening procedure will begin with our compassionate dental professionals ensuring you are comfortable. Our well-equipped treatment rooms feature Beats headphones, MINT sunglasses, and flat-screen televisions to help you stay relaxed during your procedure. Before the treatment begins, a local anesthetic will be used to numb the area. MINT dentistry in Hammond, LA also offers many sedation dentistry methods. Your options and recommendations for sedation will be discussed in advance at your consultation. After your mouth is prepared, our team 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 the bleeding by sealing the gum tissue and then rinsing your mouth.

If you have received sedation, you will need to arrange a ride home with a responsible adult after your procedure. Your mouth will probably feel sore and swollen after crown lengthening. Cold compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers are recommended to minimize your discomfort. Depending on the extent of the procedure, we may write you a prescription for pain medication and/or antibiotics. You should eat soft, mild food and drink lots of water after your treatment and be careful while cleaning your teeth. You should not floss your teeth until a team member tells you it is safe. A second appointment at MINT dentistry will be made so our team can check to see that your gums are healing properly.

The cost of your crown lengthening procedure may depend on the reason it is being performed. If you have dental insurance, it may cover a portion of the cost of the procedure. Our team will reach out to your insurance company to determine what your bill will be before discussing your options for payment. For patients who don't have dental insurance, we will estimate your costs in your consultation. We can also give you information on financing that can help make your dental treatments easier to afford. If you do not have dental insurance, ask your dentist for more information on our MINT Discount Plan. We look forward to helping you achieve a smile you love.

With a crown lengthening procedure at MINT dentistry in Hammond, LA, you can show off more of your sexy teeth. By removing gum tissue, you can improve a "gummy" smile or make sure you have enough visible enamel for a filling or crown. Contact us to schedule a consultation with our team of board-certified professionals at MINT dentistry to determine if your smile could be improved with a cosmetic or restorative crown lengthening treatment.