People can be unhappy with their appearance for any number of reasons, and the smile is one thing that can be corrected and made more appealing. This is where the cosmetic dentist comes in with tooth-whitening procedures and veneers. But what if it is not necessarily your teeth that spoil your smile, but your gums? That's where the plastic surgeon of dentistry comes in: the periodontist. He or she specializes in treating the tissues that surround an support the teeth, including the gums.
Fixing That Gummy Smile
When you smile, do you feel your gums cover too much of your teeth? Even if the gums only seem to affect some of your teeth, it can make your teeth look different lengths and leave you afraid to smile. If so, dental crown lengthening may be right for you.
Your periodontist can remove the excess gum tissue from your teeth, exposing more of the tooth crown. This way all your teeth look the same length and your smile is brighter. They do so by sculpting the gum line to give you the look you want.
Fixing Indentations Along The Gums
If you've lost a natural tooth and had a replacement tooth put in its place, it can cause an indentation along the gum line. Tooth loss can cause these indentations along the gum line or jawbone because the jawbone recedes when there is no tooth for it to hold in place.
These indentations can cause an unnatural look, and the replacement tooth may look longer than your natural teeth. Your periodontist can perform a ridge augmentation to restore the natural contour of your gums and jaw. You can also have a new tooth created to make your smile more natural looking.
Fixing Exposed Roots
If you have a receding gum line, it can cause your teeth to look too long or even show tooth roots. Receding gums occur for a variety of reasons, including gum disease, so that needs to be addressed first.
After addressing the gum problem, your periodontist can perform gum graft surgery. This procedure covers exposed roots, makes teeth appear shorter, and helps reduce further gum recession. It also help protect these vulnerable, exposed roots from decay.
While periodontists may help improve your smile with cosmetic procedures, they can also help improve your smile by educating you on how to take good care of your mouth's supportive tissues, so you can keep your teeth and your beautiful smile. The health of your gums are important to your oral health and overall health.
Share15 December 2014
Do you remember the last time you looked at your smile and really loved what you saw? A few years ago I started spending more time analyzing my appearance, and I noticed that my teeth were seriously lacking. I knew that I had to do something to improve the situation, so I began focusing on loving my smile by getting some work done. I started talking with a dentist about how he could help, and it was really incredible to see the simple difference that he was able to make. Within a few years, my smile looked and felt completely different, and I was really pleased with the results. Check out this blog for great information on making your smile more beautiful.
