Crown Lengthening

Fixing Short Teeth in Elizabethtown

The “gummy smile” is one of the most overlooked conditions in dentistry. Patients usually accept this condition thinking they just have short teeth.

The problem, however, is not short teeth but, most often, too much gum tissue. The excess gum tissue covers the unexposed enamel resulting in a “gummy smile”.

The diagnosis for these patients is “altered passive eruption”. These patients often have excessive bone height and thickness that result in a higher location of the gingival margin. “Lifting” the gums to the CEJ, sometimes known as crown lengthening, can make a dramatic improvement in the smile. The cosmetic dentist must be keenly aware of how the gums “frame” the teeth. The best esthetic results will only be achieved if all components of the smile are properly evaluated.

Learn how the team of Elizabethtown Dental Associates can help you with your cosmetic dentistry needs.