Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery

If you have a "gummy smile" or if you have very "short or stubby teeth" and are self conscious about showing too much gum when you smile, Esthetic Crown Lengthening can often make a tremendous improvement. If you have long teeth because of receding gums, covering the exposed sensitive roots with Gum Grafts can often be accomplished and create a more pleasing aesthetic smile. Dr. Ronny Taschner and Dr. Jennifer Taschner both work closely with your restorative (cosmetic) dentist to analyze your smile and design the most esthetic combination of proper tooth size and gum contour to create your most esthetically pleasing smile.

Esthetic Crown Lengthening

Although your teeth may appear short, they may actually be the proper length. The teeth may be covered with too much gum tissue. This can be easily corrected by performing the periodontal plastic surgery procedure, crown lengthening.

During this procedure, excess gum and bone tissue are reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth. This can be done to one or more teeth, to even your gum line, and to create a beautiful smile.

Gum Grafts to Cover Exposed Roots

Another cosmetic procedure is the soft tissue graft. It is used to cover unattractive long teeth that have experienced root exposure due to gum recession. This procedure will cover some or all of the exposed roots, often restoring the natural esthetic contours, and protecting the exposed roots from decay and eventual loss. These procedures are predictable, and partially or completely cover unsightly, sensitive, or exposed root surfaces and most often prevent future gum recession.

Ridge Preservation with Augmentation Before Tooth Replacement

Tooth loss causes the jawbone to recede and can lead to an unnatural indentation in your gums and jaw. This can easily contribute to an aging smile. The original look of your mouth may not be recaptured because of spaces remaining under and between replacement teeth. They may appear too long compared to nearby teeth.

Bone grafting following tooth loss can preserve the socket and the contour of the gum. Because there is less shrinkage of the gum, a more aesthetic tooth replacement with an implant crown or fixed bridge can be achieved. In order to create or preserve your most esthetic smile, it is important to discuss the need for ridge preservation before a tooth is extracted. Dr. Ronny Taschner and Dr. Jennifer Taschner along with your general dentist would be happy to discuss these procedures with you.