Feeling self-conscious about the appearance of your smile? If so, crown lengthening may be the ideal solution. Dr. Randolph Snyder, a periodontist in Yuma, AZ, offers periodontal plastic surgery in addition to a range of other cutting-edge dental procedures at his dental care facility. For patients who feel that that their gum tissue is disproportionate enough to affect the aesthetic appeal of their smile, crown lengthening may be able to remedy the issue and help restore their confidence.

Crown lengthening can eliminate that “gummy” look by giving the patient a “gum lift.” During the hour-long treatment, Dr. Snyder refashions the smile by removing extra gum and bone tissue to expose more tooth and provide a balanced and beautiful smile. Although the crown lengthening treatment can be applied to a single tooth if necessary, in most cases Dr. Snyder will perform it on the entire smile to provide the most natural look.

Since dental crowns are mainly used to repair the look of the smile by camouflaging other procedures like implants, crown lengthening is generally regarded as a cosmetic treatment. However, Dr. Snyder and other dental professionals also use aesthetic crown lengthening for restoring oral health. By removing the superfluous gum tissue, Dr. Snyder can oftentimes control gum disease or even prevent it from developing altogether.

By exposing the amount of exposed tooth surfaces, crown lengthening can actually decrease the depth of the periodontal pockets that begin forming in the early stages of gum disease. Left untreated, periodontal pockets continue to deepen as gum disease advances, creating a breeding ground for bacteria to flourish. Consequently, by reducing the pocket depth with a crown lengthening treatment, Dr. Snyder may be able to prevent gum disease from evolving into the more severe and insidious stages.

If you are interested in learning more about periodontal plastic surgery in Yuma, AZ, please call (928) 597-9306 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Snyder today.