Periodontal Plastic Surgery

Periodontal Plastic Surgery refers to cosmetic procedures performed on the gums to enhance the appearance and health of the smile.

Esthetic Crown Lengthening

Those who feel that they have a "gummy" smile can greatly benefit from esthetic crown lengthening. This relatively simple procedure to perform and is essentially a "gum lift". While the procedure can be performed on just one tooth, it is most often done to the entire smile. The end result is that more of the natural tooth is exposed creating a wider, more beautiful smile.

Esthetic crown lengthening can also be done to preserve the health of the smile. Removing excess gum tissue can help control and prevent periodontal disease. Increasing the exposed surface area of the tooth will decrease the depth of pockets between teeth where bacteria can grow and harm your teeth and gums.

Dr. Lane utilizes advanced technology to perform the crown lengthening, typically with a laser.  This technique offers superior results and much more rapid healing compared to traditional techniques that utilize scalpels.

Functional Crown Lengthening

Sometimes functional crown lengthening will be needed in order to perform a cosmetic or restorative procedure. This may be the case if a tooth is too far decayed, broken below the gumline, or has insufficient structure for restoration like a crown or bridge. In cases like this, Dr. Lane may be required to alter the gum and bone levels to expose more of the root surface so it can be restored. However, simply trimming back the gum line is not sufficient. Instead, Dr. Lane will need to reshape the gums and supporting bone to allow for adequate room to place a high quality restoration.

Dr. John M. Lane, located in Madison and Florence, Alabama, is a Periodontist who serves patients from Decatur, Madison, Huntsville, and The Shoals, Alabama. We are looking forward to welcoming you to our office and encourage you to schedule your appointment today!