Crown Lengthening in Friendswood, TX

Creating a beautiful smile is not always as simple as whitening or straightening your teeth. Excess gum tissue can mask a great smile. The board-certified doctors at MINT dentistry are experienced in crown lengthening to improve your oral health and smile. Despite its name, crown lengthening does not actually involve making the tooth itself longer. A more accurate name would be "tooth exposure" because gum tissue is removed to reveal more of the tooth, making your teeth seem longer. We may recommend crown lengthening for cosmetic reasons or if not enough of your tooth is visible to support a restoration or filling. To find out if crown lengthening could help improve your smile or oral health, contact us to schedule a consultation with a board-certified MINT dentistry professional in Friendswood, TX.

Ideal candidates for crown lengthening have a healthy mouth, especially the gums. Periodontal disease and other conditions that affect the gum tissue should be addressed before crown lengthening is performed. Most often, crown lengthening is performed for cosmetic reasons to address a "gummy" smile. In these cases, excess gum tissue can be excised to improve the amount of gums to enamel for an even gumline. Crown lengthening may also be required to complete a restoration. A MINT dentistry professional might recommend crown lengthening to reveal more enamel to place a filling, bridge, or crown. In your consultation at our well-equipped office, your dental team will assess your condition and medical history to decide if crown lengthening is appropriate.

Every appointment you have at MINT dentistry, including your crown lengthening procedure, will begin with our compassionate team making sure you're comfortable. Our advanced treatment rooms all have flat-screen televisions, Beats headphones, and MINT sunglasses to help you stay relaxed throughout your treatment. Before the treatment starts, local anesthesia will be applied to your gums to minimize discomfort. MINT dentistry is also equipped with many sedation dentistry methods. Your options and recommendations for sedation will be discussed at your consultation. As soon as you are ready, our team will slowly and carefully excise small amounts of soft tissue, revealing more of your teeth and an even gumline. When we have completed the crown lengthening procedure, we will seal the gum tissue to stop bleeding.

After the procedure, if you received sedation, you should arrange for a friend or family member to drive you home. Your mouth may be swollen and sore following this procedure. Cold compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers can usually be used to minimize your discomfort. Depending on the extent of the procedure, we may prescribe antibiotics and/or pain medication. We recommend you eat soft, mild food and drink lots of water after your treatment. You should carefully clean your teeth with mouthwash and gentle brushing. You should not floss until your dentist says it is safe to do so. A follow-up appointment at our office should be scheduled so our team can check to see that your gums are healing properly.

Total costs for a crown lengthening treatment will vary, depending on the primary reason the procedure is being performed. If you have dental insurance, it may pay some of your costs in some situations. Our dedicated support staff will speak to your provider to calculate your out-of-pocket expenses after any coverage. If you don't have dental insurance, we will help estimate your costs in your consultation. We can also give you information on low-interest medical financing to help make your dental treatments fit into your budget. If you cannot afford your dental care and do not have dental insurance, ask us 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.

Restore and transform your smile with a crown lengthening treatment at MINT dentistry in Friendswood, TX. By removing soft tissue, you can fix a "gummy" smile or make sure you have enough visible enamel for a filling or crown. Contact us to schedule an exam and consultation with our team of board-certified professionals at MINT dentistry to determine if you can benefit from a restorative or cosmetic crown lengthening procedure.