Your smile is a significant part of your facial appearance. A wide, attractive smile shows confidence and projects an upbeat personality. When people are unhappy with their smile’s appearance, they often smile less or cover their mouths when smiling or laughing. This indicates a feeling of insecurity or shyness that is often not the true nature of the individual.

While today’s porcelain veneers and crowns give an exceptionally natural appearance, the gum line bordering your teeth also plays a significant role. Showing too much gum tissue above teeth when smiling is referred to as a ‘gummy smile.’ This can be seen on Katie Couric when she smiles fully. Too, when gums have receded and reveal dark areas, it not only detracts from the appearance of your smile, tooth roots are more vulnerable to bacteria.

Several options are available to restore the gum line to an even and flattering line. This applies to crown lengthening procedures as well. When crowns are placed, a smile may be greatly improved when the gum line is contoured to blend attractively with gum tissue bordering neighboring teeth.

In smile enhancements, don’t just consider your teeth. Your gums are the icing on the cake! Begin with a consultation so we can discuss your options. Call (828) 297-9440.

It is unlawful to sell a home that has termites; that’s how destructive these little bugs are to the structure of a home. When a homeowner learns they have termites, immediate measures are taken to combat these demons and repair the damage they’ve caused thus far.

Oral bacteria, which are living ‘bugs,’ are no less destructive than termites. They multiply quickly and spend their lives eating away at the structure of your mouth. Oral bacteria begin by eating away at gum tissue and tooth surfaces. As they continue to multiply, they destroy bone structure below the gum line as well.

When oral bacteria enters the blood stream through tears in diseased gum tissues, they can trigger an inflammatory reaction elsewhere in the body. Oral bacteria have been linked to heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, preterm babies, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and even impotency.

Unlike the home in which you reside, your body is your forever home. When you think of oral bacteria as they truly are – like termites in the mouth – your oral health will have a more prominent part in your overall health commitment.

If you have signs of gum disease, oral bacteria is already causing damage. Symptoms include gums that bleed when you brush, persistent bad breath, sore and tender gums or receded gums. Delaying treatment only allows these oral ‘bugs’ to multiply further and continue their damage.

Call us at (828) 274-9440 for a consultation, or better yet, schedule an examination so we can determine your specific level of gum disease and treatment needed.

If you began 2014 with a resolution to “get fit,” you may be finding your enthusiasm is waning about now. As we age, losing weight and keeping in shape is a daunting task for most of us.

Findings of a survey of over 1,000 American adults were recently shared by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. The survey assessed how today’s consumers invest in their appearance.

A whopping 80% of those polled said they would invest to minimize the effects of aging. And, while 48% claimed they would spend on weight loss measures, 62% said they would spend money on their smile, with females more likely to invest in their smile than males.

About half felt the appearance of a smile can conceal the effects of aging while only 10% felt a physique could conceal one’s true age. Adults age 50 & over claim a smile is a better feature at camouflaging the years than adults in the 18-29 age category.

As a Periodontist, I specialize in the health AND appearance of gum tissues. Two procedures I regularly perform involve gum recontouring. Most contouring is performed as a gingivectomy that removes excess gum tissue around teeth. This is frequently done to repair a “gummy smile,” for example.

Gingivectomies are also performed in crown lengthening. This enhances the appearance of a smile for people who have porcelain veneers or crowns placed. This gives an even line of gum tissue for a smile that is flattering and attractive!

The appearance of your smile can be a major factor in self-esteem, self-confidence and of course, appearance. It is important to have both a healthy smile and one that makes us feel good from the inside out! To discuss your smile, feel free to contact us at (828) 274-9440.

Instead of having one dental professional for your oral health and smile’s appearance, general dentists regularly team with periodontists. Although general dentists often refer patients to us for periodontal problems, such as gum disease, we also team with your general dentist to create treatment plans that best conform to your needs and goals.

While periodontists are familiar with the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, they are also trained in performing cosmetic procedures involving gum tissue. This skill level includes cosmetic procedures to enhance the appearance of your smile.

A common procedure for smile enhancement is crown lengthening. We also are trained to a ‘gummy smile.’ These procedures correct the amount of gum tissue that shows in a full smile, creating an even, balanced gum line that reveals a proper tooth length that is balanced to one’s facial features. Periodontists also correct gum recession by covering exposed root surfaces, which prevents sensitivity to hot and cold and for esthetic reasons.

If you have dental fear or anxiety, feel free to discuss this at your initial consultation or exam. We have several options that can enhance your comfort throughout any procedure. Like your general dentist, our goal is to make your experience a positive one so your overall outcome is a healthy, attractive smile!

Call (828) 274-9440 for more information.