Procedures

Start Smiling!

If you’re not happy with your smile, there are cosmetic periodontal and dental procedures available now that could help you achieve the look and smile you want.

Gummy Smile or Uneven Gumline

Crown lengthening procedures remove the excess gum tissue to expose more of the "crown" of the tooth. Your gumline is then sculpted to give your new smile just the right look. If restorations are necessary, this procedure sets the stage allowing your new veneers or crowns to have the correct length and shape, giving you a beautiful new smile.

The following are just a few of the results that cosmetic periodontics can create:

Long Teeth/Exposed Roots

Tooth roots can become exposed as gums recede and can make you look older than you are. This recession can happen as a result of a variety of causes including periodontal disease. Whatever the reason, exposed roots are unappealing and can leave you at risk for developing cavities on your tooth root.

Soft tissue grafts and other root coverage procedures are designed to cover exposed roots, to reduce further gum recession and to protect your vulnerable roots from decay.

Missing Teeth

Dental implants are replacement teeth that feel and look just like your own. An artificial tooth root is placed into your jaw, and after a healing period, an artificial tooth is attached to the root.

While high-tech in nature, dental implants are actually more tooth-saving than traditional bridgework, since neighboring teeth do not have to be ground down to support the implant. Dental implants are so natural-looking and feeling, you'll forget you ever lost a tooth.

Talk with your periodontist about dental implants to find out if you are a good candidate for this procedure.

Indentations in the Gums and Jawbone

Sometimes when you lose one or more teeth, you can get an indentation in your gums and jawbone where the tooth used to be. This happens because the jawbone recedes when it no longer is holding a tooth in place.

Not only is this indentation unnatural looking, it also causes the replacement tooth to look too long compared to the adjacent teeth.

Fortunately, your periodontist can fill in this "defect" with a procedure called ridge augmentation, recapturing the natural contour of your gums and jaw. A new tooth can then be created that is natural-looking, easy to clean and beautiful.