Learn Some Less Common Ways To Make Your Smile Better

Dental crowns, dental veneers, and teeth whitening are pretty well known as ways to make your smile look better. Chips, cracks, and stains all can develop and affect the appearance of your teeth, after all.

But sometimes, your teeth don’t look like you want them to look even without those particular issues. Sometimes, your teeth appear too small, giving you a “gummy” smile. Sometimes, your teeth are too big, which can make your smile a distraction rather than an inviting signal to other people to get to know you.

If you want a smile that’s just right, then you should plan a visit to see Dr. Mark Wilhelm, our dentist in Woodbury, MN. To request an appointment, you can call (651) 319-9064 or contact us online.

After reading today’s post, you might want to ask about crown lengthening or teeth contouring.

 

Crown Lengthening Can Change Your Gummy Smile

You may be wondering if you have a gummy smile. At some level, this is subjective, but it’s something you can certainly figure out on your own.

Pick any celebrity who you think has a great smile. In a separate window, do a quick search for a picture of that actor. Look at his or her smile. What’s the most prominent feature? More than likely, it’s his or her teeth.

Now, look at a picture of your own smile, or look at your smile in a mirror. Are your teeth the “stars” of your smile, or are your gums taking a bigger role than you would like?

If you want your gums to become more of a supporting player, then you probably have a gummy smile.

This may happen for a few reasons. You may just have more gum tissue than average. This is really no different than having longer fingers or a small nose. You also might have a gummy smile because your teeth did not erupt much. This can make their teeth appear short compared to your gums.

In either of these situations, you may be able to reshape your smile with a procedure called crown lengthening. In a sense, this is a misnamed. We aren’t really changing the size of your teeth. Instead, we are removing and reshaping your gums so that your teeth become the main thing that other people see when you smile.

 

Tooth Contouring Can Make Your Smile More Uniform

Tooth contouring is a way to deal with a different problem.

You could have a tooth or a few teeth that just look long or large compared to the rest of your smile. This can make them stand out rather than blending in with your other teeth.

After examining your teeth and taking digital X-rays, Dr. Wilhelm can assess whether he can safely remove a portion of your enamel. If so, then he will apply his training and experience to reshape those teeth and to give you a better-looking smile.

 

It’s Not Just About Better Smiles

Crown lengthening or tooth contouring can make cosmetic improvements to your smile. No one would deny that.

But cosmetics are not the only reason to consider these procedures.

Crown lengthening could be needed to create space to bond a dental veneer to a tooth. In a similar fashion, tooth contouring may be done to address a bite problem. Having a long tooth could cause unnecessary wear and tear on nearby teeth when you bite down. By reshaping those teeth, you may be saving your smile for decades to come.

 

It’s Up To You To Improve Your Smile

Your smile tells people a lot about you. You should not feel like you have to hide your smile because you are worried that too much of your gums are showing or because you have a tooth that looks too large.

Crown lengthening or tooth contouring by Dr. Wilhelm can help you feel at ease about smiling, whether it’s in person or in a picture posted to social media.

To learn more or to schedule an in-person consultation, contact our dentist office in Woodbury, MN. You can call (651) 319-9064 or fill out our online form.

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