Crown Lengthening New Orleans, LA

At times, creating a gorgeous smile involves more than treatments, like straightening or whitening your teeth. Overgrown gums can be a cosmetic and periodontal problem and can hide a portion of your teeth. The board-certified doctors at MINT dentistry are experienced in performing crown lengthening to boost your oral health and smile and help you achieve sexy teeth. Despite its name, crown lengthening does not actually involve making your teeth longer. A more accurate name would be "tooth exposure" since soft tissue is removed to show more of the tooth, making your teeth look longer. Your MINT dentistry team may suggest crown lengthening to improve the appearance of your smile or as a necessary procedure to expose more enamel so your tooth can hold a filling, crown, or other restoration. To get more information on how crown lengthening can improve your oral health and appearance, schedule a consultation at our office in New Orleans, LA.

Ideal candidates for crown lengthening are those who have good oral health and healthy gum tissues. Periodontal disease and other conditions that affect the gum tissue may need to be treated before crown lengthening is performed. Often, crown lengthening is performed as a cosmetic treatment to treat a "gummy" smile. Excess gum tissue is removed to balance the ratio of gums to enamel and give you a higher gumline. Crown lengthening might also be needed to enable the placement of a dental restoration. Our dental providers may need to reveal more of the tooth to place a filling, bridge, or crown and restore a tooth. During your consultation at MINT dentistry, a board-certified dentist will evaluate your oral health and decide if crown lengthening can help meet your aesthetic goals.

When you arrive at MINT dentistry for your crown lengthening appointment, our caring team will take steps to ensure your comfort. Our modern treatment rooms all have Beats headphones, MINT sunglasses, and flat-screen televisions to help you relax throughout your treatment. Before the procedure starts, we'll numb your gum tissue with local anesthesia. MINT dentistry in New Orleans, LA also offers sedation dentistry methods to minimize dental anxiety. These options can be reviewed at your initial consultation. After your mouth is prepared, our team will remove a small amount of the gum tissue slowly and gradually to reveal more enamel and sculpt an even gumline. Once we've completed the crown lengthening procedure, we'll seal your gum tissue to stop any bleeding.

If you received certain types of sedation for your procedure, you may need to have a friend or family member drive you home. Your gums may be slightly swollen and a little sore following this procedure. Cold compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers should help to reduce any discomfort. In some cases, we may write you a prescription for pain medication. You should eat a soft food diet and drink a lot of water for the first several days after your treatment. At home, you should clean your teeth with mouthwash and gentle brushing, and follow any flossing instructions provided by our team. A second appointment at our MINT dentistry office should be scheduled so our team can check to see that your gums are healing properly.

Insurance coverage and treatment cost for a crown lengthening procedure will vary according to why it's being performed among other factors. Dental insurance may cover a portion of the cost for crown lengthening procedures. Our team will reach out to your provider to review your policy and coverage. For patients who don't have dental insurance, the MINT dentistry support staff can give you information on medical financing and help you explore ways to make your care more affordable. If you don't have dental insurance, ask us for more information on the MINT Discount Plan. We look forward to helping you achieve a smile you love.

Crown lengthening treatment at MINT dentistry removes excess gum tissue and can help you achieve your very best smile. When you remove overgrown gum tissue, you can enhance the appearance of a "gummy" smile or get your teeth ready for a restoration, like a tooth-colored filling or crown. Contact our dental office in New Orleans, LA to schedule a consultation, and learn if your appearance and oral health can be improved with a restorative or cosmetic crown lengthening procedure.