Crown Lengthening Indianapolis, IN

A whitening treatment or teeth straightening isn't the only way to achieve a stunning smile. If you have overgrown gums, they can mask a great smile. The board-certified dental professionals at MINT dentistry are skilled in crown lengthening and can help you improve your smile and oral health. Crown lengthening (despite the name) does not involve making your teeth longer. A more accurate term would be "crown exposure" because we eliminate excess tissue to reveal more of the tooth, making it seem longer. We may recommend crown lengthening to improve the appearance of your smile or to expose more enamel so your tooth can hold a restoration or filling. Schedule a consultation with a board-certified MINT dentistry professional in Indianapolis, IN to find out if crown lengthening could improve your oral health and appearance.

If you have healthy gums and oral health, you might be a good candidate for crown lengthening. Issues like gum (periodontal) disease will be treated first, and then crown lengthening can be scheduled. Most often, crown lengthening is a cosmetic treatment to correct a "gummy" smile. Excess gum tissue can be excised to improve the amount of visible enamel for an even gumline. However, crown lengthening may also be needed to complete a restoration. Our dental providers may need to reveal more of the tooth to place a tooth-colored filling, crown, or bridge. In your consultation at our well-equipped MINT dentistry practice, a board-certified dental professional will evaluate your oral health to determine if crown lengthening is right for you.

We’ll start your appointment by making certain that you’re comfortable before we begin the procedure. Our well-appointed treatment rooms have Beats headphones, MINT sunglasses, and flat-screen televisions to help you relax. Before the process starts, local anesthesia will be applied to your gums. MINT dentistry also offers many sedation dentistry options. We will review sedation methods at your consultation. As soon as you are ready, your doctor will carefully remove small amounts of soft tissue to gradually reveal more enamel with a higher, even gumline. When we have completed the crown lengthening procedure, your dentist will stop the bleeding by sealing the gum tissue and then rinsing your mouth.

Depending on the type of sedation used for the procedure, you should arrange to have a responsible adult drive you home after your appointment. Your mouth will probably feel slightly swollen and sore following crown lengthening. You can use over-the-counter pain medication and cold compresses to reduce discomfort. Depending on the extent of the procedure, your dentist may write you a prescription for antibiotics and/or pain medication. You should eat soft, mild food and stay hydrated for several days after the procedure. You should clean your mouth with mouthwash and gentle brushing, and avoid flossing your teeth until your dentist tells you it's safe. A second appointment at MINT dentistry will be scheduled so we can check your recovery.

The cost of crown lengthening treatment is dependent on factors like the reason it's performed. If you have dental insurance, it may cover a portion of the cost of the procedure in some situations. Our dedicated support staff will contact your provider to verify your policy benefits before we estimate your remaining bill. For patients who don't have dental insurance, we will estimate your costs in your consultation. We can also give you information on financing to help make your dental treatments more affordable. If you don't have dental insurance and need help affording your dental care, ask your dentist about our MINT Discount Plan.

Reveal your ideal smile with a crown-lengthening treatment that removes excess gum tissue at MINT dentistry in Indianapolis, IN. When you remove overgrown soft tissue, you can improve the appearance of a "gummy" smile or prepare your teeth for restoration. Schedule an exam and consultation with our team of board-certified professionals at MINT dentistry to determine if we can improve your appearance and oral health with a cosmetic or restorative crown lengthening procedure.