Everybody knows the importance of a gorgeous smile with straight, white, and proportional teeth. Therefore, to obtain that award-winning grim, you must have a solid cornerstone beneath your teeth, rooted in your gums and bones. But what if you have a gummy smile?
If you have excessive gingival display, you must be acquainted with its colloquial synonym. This means your gums are tall, and your teeth appear short! Hence, a Metairie dentist suggests two treatments for a gummy smile: Crown lengthening and gingivectomy! They can help restore your teeth’ health, function, and charm of your smile by removing hidden decay and overgrown gingival tissues. So, without any further ado, let’s consider their differences!
Crown Lengthening: Overview
It’s similar to Gingivectomy but involves recontouring a few bone tissues along with the gum tissues. One of the typical circumstances with the massive gingival display is that the healthy tooth structure everybody likes to expose remains concealed under both bone and gum. But you must not worry! Dentists still use a laser, and it’s a straightforward process! Your dentists might prescribe local anesthesia for crown lengthening, and any residual soreness must be minor and curable with OTC NSAIDs.
Gingivectomy: Overview
It’s a treatment for recontouring the gum tissue that covers a tooth’s portion. Dentists in Metairie either utilize a laser or a scalpel to execute gingivectomy. But in most cases, dentists in Metairie perform this surgery using a laser. This makes the process painless and quick. The laser also cauterizes and sterilizes the gum tissues, encouraging prompt restoration and healing. The dentists can also remodify the wrecked gum tissue with laser gingivectomy in Metairie.
Differences Between Crown Lengthening and Gingivectomy
Purpose
- Crown Lengthening – It’s executed to expose more of the tooth’ structure, which is vital for dental restoration processes, or to bolster the aesthetics of a smile with excessive gum tissue.
- Gingivectomy – This process eliminates extra gum tissue that might result from periodontal disease or cosmetic enlargement. The essential purpose is to eliminate pockets between the gums and teeth where bacteria can grow or to sculpt a highly aesthetically endearing gum line.
Signs
- Crown Lengthening – It’s required when a tooth needs restoration but doesn’t have adequate tooth showing above the gum for a filling or crown. It’s also utilized when excessive gum covers the teeth, making the smile less appealing.
- Gingivectomy – It’s recommended for patients with excess gum tissue, either because of gum disease, which creates deep pockets that are challenging to clean, or for those who would like to minimize the size of their gums for an attractive smile.
Procedure
- Crown Lengthening – It involves eliminating the gum tissue precisely and sometimes bone around the teeth to exhibit more of the tooth. It’s an in-depth process needing precision, mainly if the bone is removed or modified.
- Gingivectomy – It only eliminates gum tissue, which can be performed using distinct strategies, such as laser and scalpel, relying on how much tissue requires elimination and what the dentist loves.
Complexity
- Crown Lengthening – It’s challenging since it goes through the delicate gums and the bone; therefore, it takes more time, and a surgeon usually performs this surgery with cutting-edge skills.
- Gingivectomy – It mainly deals with delicate tissue, which is straightforward and can be performed quickly. Precise imaging and planning are vital to get the desired outcomes without damaging the tooth.
Conclusion
Both gingivectomy and crown lengthening are innovative processes that boost smiles and oral health. Irrespective of whether it’s revealing more tooth structure or handling excess gum tissue, these processes can uplift your confidence and bolster dental functionality.