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Procedure

Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery

A beautiful smile starts with the gum line.

  • Crown lengthening to correct a gummy smile
  • Soft tissue grafting to cover exposed roots
  • Ridge preservation after tooth loss
  • Evening and reshaping the gum line
  • Coordinated with restorative dentistry

The gum line is the frame around your smile. When that frame is uneven, excessive, receded, or collapsed, even beautiful teeth can look less than their best. Cosmetic periodontal procedures address the soft and hard tissue architecture around the teeth — creating the proportions and contours that allow your smile to shine.

Crown Lengthening

If your teeth appear short or your smile looks "gummy," the issue may not be your teeth at all — they may simply be covered by excess gum and bone tissue. Crown lengthening is a periodontal procedure that removes this excess tissue to expose more of the natural tooth surface.

Crown lengthening can be performed on a single tooth, multiple teeth, or across the entire smile line. It is frequently performed in coordination with cosmetic dentistry by your general dentist, who can then deliver veneers, crowns, or bonding on teeth that are properly framed by a balanced gum line.

Soft Tissue Grafting

A soft tissue graft covers unattractive, sensitive, or vulnerable root surfaces caused by gum recession. It also reduces the risk of further recession and protects the root from decay and physical damage. When recession has created a visually uneven gum line, grafting restores symmetry and improves the overall appearance of the smile.

Ridge Preservation and Augmentation

Tooth loss causes the jawbone to resorb, leading to a visible indentation or collapse in the gum and jaw. This can make replacement teeth — whether implant crowns or a fixed bridge — appear too long or unnaturally positioned compared to adjacent teeth.

Bone grafting following extraction preserves the ridge, minimizes bone and gum collapse, and creates the natural-looking contour that supports a beautiful tooth replacement. There is less shrinkage, better soft tissue volume, and a more esthetic result for whatever restoration follows.

Coordinating with Your Dentist

Many cosmetic periodontal procedures are most effective when planned in coordination with your restorative dentist. Our dentists work closely with referring practices to sequence treatment appropriately — ensuring that the foundational periodontal work is completed before or alongside cosmetic restorations, for results that are both beautiful and durable.

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