Crown Lengthening at Garrison Family Dentistry

For patients who need dental work done on a tooth below the gum line, or for patients who have a “gummy” smile, our skilled and experienced dentists here at Garrison Family Dentistry of Smithville, MO can perform a crown lengthening.

A crown lengthening is the process of removing gum tissue to expose more of the crown of a tooth. This is needed in cases where there is decay under the gum line, or when a tooth needs a replacement crown, but there is not enough tooth above the gums to work with. This is also used for cosmetic reasons. Sometimes when a person has excess gum tissue, it can cause their teeth to look short, when in fact the teeth are just being covered up. This is commonly referred to as the “gummy” smile.

To start the procedure, incisions are made to the gums to allow them to be pulled back. In some cases, when the tooth needs to be worked on below the jaw bone, that will be cut away to gain access to the tooth. The gums are then cleaned and stitched into place. Even if only one tooth needs to be worked on, several teeth in the area have the gums pulled back so they can heal in a natural line.

If you need work done below the gum line, or want to improve the look of your “gummy” smile, the dentists here at Garrison Family Dentistry are experienced in performing crown lengthening. To schedule a consultation, call (816) 532-8778 or visit our website, www.garrisondentistry.com. 

Are You Flossing?

There are several options for cleaning between your teeth. You might choose to use dental floss or another product made specifically for this purpose like a dental pick, pre-threaded flosser, tiny brushes that reach between the teeth, etc. At Garrison Family Dentistry Dr. Matthew Garrison wants patients to know that it doesn’t matter what you use to floss (as long as it isn’t anything crazy) he just wants them to know that the most important thing about flossing is to do it.

Dental floss dislodges food particles trapped between the teeth and under the gums where toothbrushes can’t reach. Left untreated, bacterial build-up can lead to bad breath, cavities, and gum disease. Tips for fabulous flossing include: wrapping 18 to 24 inches of dental floss around your index and middle fingers. Then hold it tightly around each tooth in a C shape while moving it back and forth in a push-pull motion and up and down against the side of each tooth.  

If you have questions about flossing give us a call or visit our website www.garrisondentistry.com for more information about oral hygiene. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Matthew Garrison here at Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, call 816-532-8778.

Six Month Smiles at Garrison Family Dentistry

Many adults spend their entire lives unhappy with their crooked smiles because they do not want to wear adult metal braces for years at a time. They may also be concerned that other corrective teeth straightening procedures will be to invasive or too expensive. This is why Dr. Matthew Garrison at Garrison Family Dentistry offers an effective, safe and affordable cosmetic braces solution called Six Month Smiles.

You may be wondering if it’s really possible to straighten your teeth in six months. The answer is yes. The Six Month Smiles technique straightens your teeth with the latest technology in dentistry to move your teeth quickly and safely with clear adult braces that are barely visible. Six Month Smiles is typically less expensive than traditional braces, aligner therapy, or veneers and leave you with the smile that you’ve always dreamed of. With this technique there is no reason to be unhappy, self-conscious or even embarrassed by your smile.

If you have questions about Six Month Smiles adult braces give us a call or visit our website www.garrisondentistry.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Matthew Garrison here at Garrison Family Dentistry in Smithville, MO, call 816-532-8778.