Elevate Your Smile With Gum Lifts and Crown Lengthening
Austin Cosmetic Dentist Performs Gum Lifts and Crown Lengthening
I Have Good Teeth, So Why Does My Smile Looks Awkward?
We focus on the appearance of our teeth so much we sometimes forget that our gums play a major role in the overall appearance of our smile. Too much visible gum can make teeth look small, stumpy, and even childlike. Uneven gums can make even the straightest teeth look asymmetrical and awkward. Your Austin cosmetic dentist offers laser gum lifts, a minimally invasive procedure aimed at reducing the amount of visible gum and increasing the amount of visible enamel that shows when you smile.
What Happens During a Cosmetic Gum Lift?
Before beginning this or any dental procedure, talk Dr. Ragsdale if you feel anxious or fearful. We can help you feel more relaxed and at ease with one of our gentle sedation options. Once you feel completely comfortable, Dr. Ragsdale will numb the area where she wants to make adjustments to your smile. Using a Waterlase medical laser, your Austin dentist removes small amounts of gum tissue until just the right amount of tooth enamel shows. State-of-the-art laser technology allows for less discomfort and a quick healing time. Sometimes referred to as a “crown lengthening,” a gum lift can dramatically enhance the symmetry and beauty of your smile, especially when performed in conjunction with other conservative cosmetic procedures such as tooth contouring or porcelain veneers.
What are the Advantages of a Laser Gum Lift?
Laser technology has revolutionized cosmetic gum therapy. Before the advent of laser technology in gum therapy, dentists used traditional methods to cut away and stitch up gums that needed cosmetic attention. Not only was this a considerably more invasive procedure, but patients often needed a full week or more to recover from the procedure. With the Waterlase medical laser, Dr. Helen Ragsdale can perform a gum lift with precision and accuracy, removing just the right amount of tissue and preserving as much of your natural soft tissue as possible. Our state-of-the-art dental laser also immediately closes the tissue as the laser moves along the gums, eliminating any bleeding and avoiding the need for stitches. Most patients heal in 1-2 days and can flash their newly improved smiles without the embarrassment of swollen and still-healing gums.
How Do I Find a Cosmetic Dentist with Experience in Laser Dentistry?
You don’t need to look any further for an Austin cosmetic dentist skilled in laser technology. Dr. Helen Ragsdale is an acknowledged local expert in the field of laser dentistry. In fact, she has conducted clinical demonstration classes for many local dentists in both soft tissue laser techniques, such as cosmetic gum lifts and periodontal disease therapy, and hard tissue techniques, such as root canals and cavity preparation. Dr. Ragsdale continues to learn everything she can about how dental laser therapy can improve the health and well-being of her Austin and Round Rock patients.
How Can a Gum Lift Improve My Total Well-Being?
Your smile says a great deal about who you are. A bright, vibrant smile can make you look friendlier, more successful, younger, and more attractive. On the other hand, a smile marred by large or uneven gums or dull, oddly spaced teeth can make you look unhealthy and can overshadow other positive qualities. Even worse, if you feel embarrassed by the appearance of your gums and teeth, you may choose to cover your smile or refrain from smiling altogether. This can cause you to seem unfriendly or overly reserved to the people around you. Choosing to take control of your appearance through cosmetic dentistry can help you feel more empowered and confident. Laser gum contouring can give you a level of confidence you’ve never experienced before. Plus, you’ll feel like sharing that gorgeous new smile with everyone around you. The benefits of smiling include enhancing everything from your appearance, your social and professional life, and even your mood and overall health.
How Do I Keep My Gums Healthy After a Laser Gum Lift?
Gum contouring using Waterlase technology significantly reduces the amount of time needed to heal from the procedure. Still, you will still need to follow a few basic gum lift aftercare guidelines to help ensure maximum healing in minimal time:
- To counteract any discomfort you may experience after the procedure, take an appropriate dose of over-the-counter-pain medication, such as ibuprofen.
- Do not eat or drink anything until the anesthetic has worn off. This will help you avoid any unnecessary damage to the cheeks and gums.
- Follow you regular at-home dental hygiene routine, making sure to brush and floss very gently. You still want to remove as much plaque as possible without overworking the contouring site.
- If you use mouthwash, choose one that does not contain alcohol. You may even want to consider rinsing with warm salt water for a couple of days after the procedure.
- Do not smoke or chew tobacco products for a couple of days as this will extend your healing time. Even better, you can take this opportunity to quit tobacco use altogether for the continuing health and beauty of your smile and your whole body.
Interested in a Cosmetic Gum Lift in Austin?
With her extensive experience working with laser therapy, Dr. Helen Ragsdale, your Austin cosmetic dentist, can even out and reduce your gums to give you the smile you’ve always wanted. Call our Austin dentist office at (512) 346-4690 to schedule an appointment. Austin Laser Dentistry proudly serves patients from Austin, Round Rock, and all surrounding communities.