Sometimes the teeth are quite small in relation to the gum tissue. This can create an unattractive "gummy" smile. An uneven gum line can also be distracting.
The gum line, and the bone just beneath the gum line, can be lowered to change
the appearance of your smile. This can create a more even gum line or make the
teeth appear longer. "Gingival (gum) contouring" is the process of
recontouring the gum only. "Crown lengthening" refers to recontouring of both
gum and supporting bone.
Procedure: The periodontist administers a local anesthetic and gently recontours excess gum and bone tissue to expose more of your natural teeth.
Brian N. Hollander, DDS, MS
Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology
1615 Hill Road, Suite 4, Novato, CA 94947
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