Crown Lengthening in Louisville, KY

In some cases, cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening are not enough to improve your smile. Excess gum tissue can mask a great smile. The board-certified dental professionals at MINT dentistry are skilled in crown lengthening to improve your smile and oral health. Despite its name, crown lengthening doesn't actually make the tooth itself longer. A more accurate name would be "tooth exposure” because soft tissue is eliminated to show more enamel, making it appear longer. Your dentist may suggest crown lengthening to improve the appearance of your smile or as a necessary procedure to expose more enamel so your tooth can support a filling, crown, or other restoration. To find out if crown lengthening could help improve your smile or oral health, contact us to schedule an initial consultation at our office in Louisville, KY.

Ideal candidates for crown lengthening have not only optimal oral health but also healthy gums. Issues like gum disease will need to be addressed first before crown lengthening can be scheduled. Crown lengthening is often performed for cosmetic reasons to address a "gummy" smile. In these cases, excess gum tissue can be excised to balance the amount of visible gums to enamel for a higher gumline. However, crown lengthening may also be required to complete a restoration. Your dentist might recommend crown lengthening to expose more of the tooth to have enough room for a tooth-colored filling, crown, or bridge. In your consultation at our advanced MINT dentistry office, a board-certified dental professional will evaluate your oral health and medical history to determine if crown lengthening is appropriate.

Your MINT dentistry team is dedicated to making sure you feel relaxed and comfortable during your crown lengthening procedure. Our state-of-the-art treatment rooms all have flat-screen televisions, Beats headphones, and MINT sunglasses to help you remain at ease during your procedure. Before the process starts, a local anesthetic will numb the area to minimize discomfort. MINT dentistry in Louisville, KY also offers many sedation dentistry choices. These options will be discussed at your initial consultation. After you are ready, your dentist will remove a small amount of the gum tissue slowly and gradually to reveal more enamel with a higher, even gumline. Once the procedure is complete, we will seal the gum tissue to stop bleeding.

A trusted friend or family member will need to give you a ride home if sedation is used during your appointment. Your mouth may be swollen and sore following crown lengthening. Over-the-counter pain medication and cold compresses should help to minimize your discomfort. In some cases, we may write you a prescription for pain medication and/or antibiotics. It's best to stick to a soft food diet and drink lots of water for about 3 – 5 days after your treatment. At home, you should clean your mouth with gentle brushing and mouthwash. You should not floss your teeth until a team member says it is safe to do so. A second appointment at MINT dentistry should be scheduled so we can check your recovery.

Any out-of-pocket costs for crown lengthening will depend on various factors, like why this procedure is being performed to begin with. If you have dental insurance, it may cover a portion of the cost of the procedure. Our dedicated support staff will speak to your provider to understand the coverage of your policy based on your situation. For patients who don't have dental insurance, the MINT dentistry support staff will estimate your costs during your initial consultation and give you information on low-interest financing that can help make your dental treatments more affordable. If you don't have dental insurance and need help affording your dental care, ask us about our MINT Discount Plan. We look forward to helping you achieve a smile you love.

Allow the dental professionals at MINT dentistry in Louisville, KY reveal a stunning new smile by removing excess gum tissue from the enamel. By removing soft tissue, you can fix a "gummy" smile or prepare your teeth for a restoration. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation with one of our experienced board-certified dentists at MINT dentistry to find out if you're a good candidate for a cosmetic or restorative crown lengthening treatment.