Metal Mouth Message Board

OK, I'm done - well I've been done for a while (Nov 07) but I have to admit I kind of wasn't overjoyed so never posted. I see all the beautiful teeth on here and I didn't end up with the big sparkly straight teeth I'd hoped for.

My ortho's fault? Nope. My expectations? Yes! Ok there were some ortho related issues with but too bad, moaning and groaning doesn't help with things that can't be changed. And yes, my teeth were straight!

But there was one big issue - my now perfectly (well almost!) straight teeth now emphasised my rather gummy smile! That I was not coping with! I wanted to go round flashing my teeth after 3 years of confinement but instead I was trying to only half smile as my gums looked huge (well to me... not that anyone else ever mentioned it!)

So I was rather pleased when my good old everyday dentist helped me out with that. The answer: crown lengthening. Woo hoo! He did laser crown lengthening so not a scalpel in sight, no pain except a tiny bit that night and the healing process was a breeze!

Here are some before and after pics which I am pleased to reveal now!

Thanks for letting me share!

Before I had braces (ah so long ago...)


After my braces were removed but before crown lengthening (was I stressing about nothing??? !!!) And I'm not doing a huge smile here, a bit of a half fake one so my gums don't show too much!


After my front 4 teeth had laser crown lengthening

Your teeth look awesome!! I have actually been starting to wonder if I will need some work done to my gums because my smile has gotten HUGE since braces, but I don't know who to ask or exactly how to ask about having a *gummy smile*.

Was what you had done considered cosmetic? What about gum grafting or whatever it is called?

I have to agree that I would have felt the same about the results - very nice but a little gummy. Now? MOVIE STAR QUALITY - wow wow wow!

Dumb question - does that mean your two front teeth are crowns? Or is that just what the procedure is called? I've never heard of it before. I have one front tooth that has a higher gumline than the other and I think I am going to need *something* to make mine look anywhere near as spectacular as yours!

Oh wow! Your results are amazing!!! I bet you probably love it!!! Cheers to you and the rest of your life with a smile that could rival Vanna Whites!

They look beautiful! I have a "gummy" smile too so don't feel bad!

Thank you all for your lovely comments

Dawna - Good question! No they aren't crowns, they are my real teeth.

Basically crown lengthening is a procedure where they reposition your gum level. It's a bit more complex than simply trimming gums that have overgrown - they reshape the bone and gum to expose more tooth enamel. Revealing the inner beauty so to speak If it's only one tooth that's bothering you, you can have it done on just one and they might only have to trim the gum not shape the bone.

Gum grafting - not sure! I think that's when your gums have receded exposing too much of the tooth or tooth root. So I guess the opposite problem to mine

purpleteeth - In my case yes it's cosmetic but I think it can be done for other non-cosmetic reasons like if a tooth is being restored.

Bekah - Yeah I don't feel bad And I still have a bit of a gummy smile if I give a huge smile but that's fine by me

I think that you have a pretty smile! I really wasn't telling you that you still have a gummy smile! I was just saying that I have always had a gummy smile!

No that's ok Bekah I know what you meant

Now I'm confused as to the difference between crown lengthening and gum reshaping

Whatever it is, I want your results!!!! Freckles, they are just picture perfect!

Oh my! I can see why you are so pleased! While I still think your post-braces/pre-crown lengthening smile is quite lovely on it's own, this just takes it to another level!!! Congrats, how awesome!

Thanks again everyone

linda21 - Pretty much I think! I'm not exactly sure on the technical bits but in my case he removed bone as well as gum to expose more of the tooth structure (we are only talking 2 mms !)

My problem was I had short teeth not just overgrown gums (in that case the excess can just be trimmed away) He explained that if he just trimmed the gums they would grow back as they always find their level in relation to distance from the bone. So by removing some bone as well then they find their new level in relation to the new position of the bone and then they won't try to grow back. Does that make sense? Sorry I was just so excited that I didn't quiz him more!

Crown lengthening can be done surgically where they use a scalpel to cut and lift your gum or they can use a laser which my dentist did. Using a laser they can't move the level as extremely as you can surgically but in my case 2mm was all we were after so it was fine. Plus here in Tassie I would have to travel for the surgical procedure and with work and bub committments I would have to wait ages before I could get the time to do that.

I found this link which explains it with nice pictures! http://www.cap-acp.ca/en/public/crown_lengthening.htm This example is in relation to preparing a tooth for restoration rather than cosmetic like mine but same process.

Hope that helps

Cheers and thanks again

Oh my goodness, your smile looks amazing!!!! I have short teeth and a gummy smile and have considered having crown lengthening once the braces are off Thank you so much for sharing!!