Missing Teeth: Replacing Them is Easier Than Ever

I have always been an avid hockey player, and my love took a bad turn one day when I got struck in the mouth with the puck. It was a painful moment that left me with two teeth knocked out of my mouth. Had I taken the right steps after the accident, I could have possibly saved the teeth, but I did not know I had that option at the time. Thankfully, I worked up the courage to visit a dentist and ask what my options for teeth-replacement were. I was worried I would would have to live the rest of my life without smiling, but I was ecstatic to learn that I was the perfect candidate for dental implants. I created this blog to help others realize that there are so many options to replace missing teeth today that no one has to "just live with" an imperfect smile!

Here's How Your Dentist Can Help To Make Your Teeth Appear Smaller

Dentist Blog

It's important for you to feel confident and comfortable with the way that your teeth and smile look. If you have teeth that you consider to be too long, it can get in the way of you accomplishing that. The good news is that cosmetic dentists are able to help with this issue. Here's what you should know about making your teeth look smaller.

Why Shaving Isn't a Good Idea

Some people think that dentists literally shave down teeth in order to make them appear smaller. While this is actually a procedure that dentists sometimes perform, it's not typically because teeth appear to be too large. Instead, this method is used when people have bite problems that can't be resolved with braces.

Shaving the teeth down runs the risk of harming the inner pulp of the tooth, where the nerves are. This could cause tooth pain and increase the risk of developing dental problems. Dentists have other ways of making your teeth look shorter.

The Alternative Solution

One of the most common methods for a cosmetic dentist to use in this scenario is to perform a small gum graft. This is a procedure that pulls your gums down further over your teeth, which prevents as much of the tooth surface from being exposed. This makes your teeth look smaller and the ratio of gums to teeth look more symmetrical.

A gum graft can be performed with your own tissue or donor tissue, depending on your needs and personal health. The choice is ultimately up to your dentist, but feel free to discuss it with them if you have questions or concerns.

What to Expect

If your dentist uses your tissue for the gum graft, the procedure will be in two parts.

The first part is to numb your mouth. Then, your dentist will make a small incision in the roof of your mouth to remove tiny slivers of tissue. This tissue will then be cut and reshaped and stitched together to the edges of your gums.

Over time, the gums and the new tissue will merge together and become whole. Your gums will maintain their new length and look completely normal to anyone who is watching you smile.

For most people, this procedure can be finished in just one visit to your dentist's office and only requires local anesthesia. This will allow you to drive home the day of so that you don't require any special help from anyone.

Lengthening your gums can dramatically improve the look of your smile and help you to get the appearance that you want. Talk to a cosmetic dentist if you have questions or want to get this procedure started as soon as possible.

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27 March 2019