Cosmetic Dentistry in Memphis & Southaven

Usually with esthetic crown lengthening, which reshapes the gum line so the teeth show at their natural length. Your exam confirms the cause and best approach.

Yes. Laser gum depigmentation removes the pigmented surface layer so lighter gum tissue heals in its place.

Porcelain veneers are thin, custom-made restorations bonded primarily to the front surface of teeth. They can change selected aspects of tooth color, shape, proportion or appearance when the teeth, gums, bite and overall treatment plan make veneers an appropriate option.

Veneers may be considered for selected discoloration, minor shape or proportion concerns, some chipped or worn teeth, spaces, and certain appearance-related irregularities. Those findings do not automatically require veneers. We first determine the cause and consider whether whitening, bonding, orthodontic care, periodontal treatment, a crown, another restoration, or no treatment would be more appropriate.

Veneers and crowns have different indications. A veneer primarily covers the front surface of a tooth, while a crown covers substantially more of it. We consider remaining tooth structure, enamel available for bonding, existing restorations, cracks or decay, bite forces, periodontal health, tooth position and long-term prognosis before recommending either option.

Veneers may be made from porcelain or composite resin. Each material has advantages and limitations related to esthetics, durability, repairability, preparation requirements, treatment time and cost. The choice is individualized rather than based on one material being best for everyone.

Not necessarily. Preserving healthy tooth structure is a priority, but a no-prep or minimal-prep veneer works only when the starting tooth position, contour, color, bite and restorative space allow it. In some cases, appropriate preparation is necessary to avoid an overcontoured or compromised result. When tooth structure is removed for veneers, the treatment is generally irreversible.

Your preferences are an important part of the decision. We also evaluate your teeth, gums, bone, bite, existing restorations, medical and dental history, and treatment goals. We explain reasonable options, their advantages and limitations, and recommend the approach that is most appropriate and predictable for your situation.

The number of visits varies with the case. Treatment may include evaluation and planning, tooth preparation when needed, records or digital scans, provisional restorations in some cases, laboratory fabrication, try-in and bonding, and follow-up. More complex cases or cases involving periodontal, orthodontic or other restorative care may require additional visits.

There is no single lifespan that applies to every veneer. Longevity depends on the material, remaining tooth structure, bonding conditions, bite, grinding or clenching, oral hygiene, periodontal health, diet and maintenance. Veneers may eventually require repair or replacement.

Oral hygiene remains essential. Porcelain does not decay, but the natural tooth can develop decay and the surrounding gums can become inflamed or diseased. Brushing, interdental cleaning, professional maintenance and periodic evaluation help protect both the restoration and the tissues supporting it.

Cost depends on the number of teeth, material, complexity of treatment, laboratory requirements, and whether other dental or periodontal care is needed. After evaluation and treatment planning, we can provide a more meaningful estimate based on your individual case.

A gummy smile, or excessive gingival display, means that more gum tissue shows during smiling than a patient prefers. There is no single cause or one measurement that determines treatment. We evaluate the gums, teeth, lip movement, tooth position, skeletal relationships, and your own concern before recommending anything.

The terms are related but are not always interchangeable. Gum contouring generally refers to reshaping the gingival margin. Esthetic crown lengthening is planned to expose more of the natural tooth and may involve soft tissue alone or, when the anatomy requires it, management of the underlying bone. The examination determines what is actually needed.

A gingivectomy is the removal of gingival tissue for an appropriate periodontal or esthetic indication. It is not automatically the same as crown lengthening. The correct procedure depends on the diagnosis and the relationship between the gingiva, tooth and supporting bone.

The technique depends on what needs to change. Some cases involve soft-tissue reshaping only. Other cases require a more comprehensive crown-lengthening procedure in which the gum is repositioned and the supporting bone is carefully managed. Local anaesthetic is commonly used, and the exact approach is individualized.

A laser is one of the technologies available for selected soft-tissue procedures. Whether it is useful depends on the diagnosis and the tissue that needs to be treated. A laser is not a substitute for managing the underlying bone when bone treatment is necessary.

It can be stable when the procedure is properly selected and planned for the patient's anatomy. Some patients are appropriate for soft-tissue treatment alone, while others require management of the underlying bone. We discuss the expected stability and limitations of the specific treatment recommended for you.

Some medications can contribute to gingival enlargement in susceptible patients, which may increase the amount of gum tissue visible. We evaluate inflammation, oral hygiene, medical history, medications and other causes before recommending treatment. When appropriate, we coordinate with the prescribing physician; patients should not stop or change prescribed medication on their own.

Botox is one possible treatment in selected patients when upper-lip muscle activity contributes to excessive gingival display. It temporarily reduces muscle activity and therefore requires maintenance if continued. Because gummy smiles have different causes, Botox is not appropriate for every patient.

Genetics can influence tooth size and shape, jaw development, lip anatomy, gingival characteristics, and the relationships among the teeth, gums and face. These factors can contribute to excessive gingival display, but an examination is needed to determine what is contributing in an individual patient.

Gum contouring may be considered when the position or shape of the gingival margin contributes to a patient's concern and the examination shows that reshaping or repositioning the tissue is appropriate. The recommendation depends on periodontal health, anatomy, treatment goals and expected long-term stability.

Gum, or gingiva, is the soft tissue that surrounds the teeth and covers portions of the supporting bone. It is part of the periodontal tissues that protect and support the teeth, and it naturally varies in thickness, contour, position and pigmentation. Even when treatment is requested for cosmetic reasons, we treat it as living functional tissue whose health and stability must be preserved.

Crown lengthening exposes more of the natural tooth above the gum line. Depending on the case, it may involve repositioning the gingiva and, when necessary, carefully reshaping the supporting bone to create an appropriate periodontal and restorative relationship.

In “crown lengthening,” crown refers to the visible portion of the natural tooth. The term does not necessarily mean an artificial dental crown, although a restoration may be planned afterward.

Esthetic crown lengthening is used when the gingival position contributes to an appearance concern. Functional crown lengthening is used when additional accessible tooth structure may be needed for predictable restorative treatment. Some patients have both functional and esthetic considerations.

In an appropriately selected case, crown lengthening can create access to healthy tooth structure, establish a more appropriate relationship between a restoration and the periodontal tissues, improve gingival or tooth proportions, and sometimes allow a tooth to be restored rather than extracted. The benefit depends on the tooth's prognosis after treatment.

We evaluate the tooth, gums, bone support, restorative needs, bite, medical history, medications, imaging and expected prognosis. When another dentist will provide the final restoration, treatment planning can be coordinated so the periodontal and restorative goals are aligned.

The procedure is individualized. After local anaesthetic, the gingival tissues are managed to provide access and are repositioned according to the treatment goal. Supporting bone is reshaped only when the anatomy and restorative or esthetic plan require it. The tissues are then stabilized for healing.

There is a difference between initial recovery and complete tissue maturation. Comfort and everyday function may improve relatively early, while the periodontal tissues continue to heal and stabilize for longer. The timing depends on the location, extent of treatment, tissue response and restorative plan.

Timing is individualized. The restorative dentist and periodontist consider tissue healing and stability, the location of the tooth, the extent of surgery, and the esthetic demands of the case before proceeding with the definitive restoration.

No. Its purpose is to create conditions in which a tooth can be restored and maintained appropriately. The natural tooth can still develop decay or periodontal problems, so home care, professional maintenance and ongoing evaluation remain important.

Gum recession occurs when the gingival margin moves away from its previous position and more of the tooth or root becomes exposed. Recession is a finding, not a diagnosis by itself. We evaluate why it occurred, whether it is progressing, the condition of the supporting tissues, and whether it is creating a health, functional, sensitivity, maintenance or esthetic concern.

No. Some areas are healthy, stable and maintainable and may only need monitoring or correction of contributing factors. In other cases, grafting or another periodontal procedure may improve tissue stability, root coverage, comfort, cleansability, or support another planned treatment.

Sometimes. Depending on the cause, modifying brushing technique, controlling inflammation, improving oral hygiene, or addressing restorative or orthodontic factors may stabilize the area. We reassess the tissue and recommend surgery only when the expected benefit justifies it.

Reasons vary. A graft may be considered to increase tissue thickness or keratinized tissue, improve stability, reduce sensitivity in selected cases, improve cleansability, address an esthetic concern, manage an exposed root, or support orthodontic or restorative treatment.

Options include connective-tissue grafts, free gingival grafts, pedicle or laterally positioned techniques, donor-derived materials such as allografts, and minimally invasive approaches such as the pinhole technique in selected cases. These are not interchangeable; the technique is chosen according to the treatment objective and anatomy.

There is no single best graft for every patient. We consider the recession anatomy, tissue quality, available donor tissue, number and location of teeth, bone and attachment support, treatment objective, expected root coverage, morbidity, practicality and your preferences before recommending an approach.

The pinhole technique is one minimally invasive approach that may be used for selected recession defects. Tissue is mobilized through a small access point and repositioned, sometimes with supportive materials. It can be useful in the right case but is not a replacement for conventional grafting in every patient.

The details vary by technique. In general, the treatment site is prepared, tissue is repositioned or augmented with an appropriate graft material, and the area is stabilized for healing. Sutures, dressings, donor tissue and biologic adjuncts are used when indicated rather than as universal steps.

Initial discomfort and functional recovery may occur before the graft is biologically mature. The recipient site, any donor site, sutures, brushing restrictions, diet, activity and tissue maturation all have different timelines. We provide instructions and follow-up based on the specific procedure.

Sometimes, but complete root coverage cannot be promised for every recession defect. The expected result depends on the anatomy, amount of attachment and bone support, tooth position, tissue quality, defect characteristics and other factors. We discuss the realistic treatment goal before surgery.

Healthy gingiva naturally occurs in many colors. Melanin and genetics commonly produce brown or darker pigmentation and may be completely normal. Smoking, medications, inflammation, systemic conditions and other factors can also influence gum color, so a new or unusual change should be evaluated.

Tobacco use can be associated with increased melanin pigmentation of the gingiva in some people. Smoking also affects periodontal health and healing, so we consider tobacco use as part of the patient's overall periodontal evaluation rather than treating pigmentation as an isolated cosmetic issue.

Longstanding, symmetric pigmentation may be normal. A new, changing, localized, asymmetric, ulcerated, painful or otherwise unusual area deserves professional evaluation. The goal is to determine the cause before considering cosmetic treatment.

Gingival depigmentation is an elective cosmetic periodontal procedure used to reduce visible physiologic pigmentation in appropriately selected patients. It changes appearance; it does not make naturally dark, healthy gums healthier.

Laser is one technology that may be used to remove or reduce superficial pigmented tissue in an appropriate case. The area is evaluated first, local anaesthetic may be used, and the extent of treatment is planned according to the pigmentation and your goals. Other techniques may also be appropriate.

Sometimes a localized area can be treated, but a dark spot should first be evaluated to determine why it is present. If it is healthy physiologic pigmentation and cosmetic treatment is appropriate, we can discuss whether localized treatment will produce a natural, balanced appearance.

Comfort and recovery vary with the technique and the amount of tissue treated. Local anaesthetic is commonly used during treatment. We provide postoperative instructions and discuss what to expect for tenderness, diet, oral hygiene and follow-up based on the individual procedure.

Treatment time varies with the size and number of areas being treated, the technique selected, and your individual tissue characteristics. We can give a more meaningful estimate after examination.

Yes. Repigmentation can occur because treatment does not eliminate the body's natural ability to produce melanin. The degree and timing vary from patient to patient, and this is worth understanding before elective depigmentation.

Home remedies do not predictably remove normal melanin pigmentation. Applying unproven substances to gingival tissue may cause irritation or injury. If you are concerned about gum color (especially a recent or unusual change), it is better to have the area evaluated before trying to treat it yourself.

Sedation and other comfort options are available when appropriate. We consider the planned procedure, anxiety level, medical history, medications, previous dental experiences and individual needs before recommending a level of comfort management.

Coverage depends on the diagnosis, procedure, clinical indication and the terms of your individual plan. Procedures performed solely for cosmetic reasons may have limited or no coverage. Our team helps with the insurance process, including filing claims when appropriate and providing requested documentation. Final benefit and payment decisions are made by the insurance company.

Dr. Adatrow is a board-certified periodontist and prosthodontist with 30 years of clinical experience. That combination allows periodontal health, gum position, supporting tissues, tooth structure, restorations, function and esthetics to be evaluated together. The practice identifies Dr. Adatrow as the only practicing board-certified periodontist and prosthodontist in the southern United States. The goal is not to recommend more treatment; it is to identify what is causing the concern and choose an appropriate, predictable, long-lasting solution.

Yes. We see patients from Southaven and throughout the greater Memphis and North Mississippi region, including Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett and Cordova in Tennessee; Olive Branch, Hernando, Horn Lake, Batesville, Senatobia, Holly Springs and Clarksdale in Mississippi; and West Memphis, Marion, Forrest City and Brinkley in Arkansas. We also serve patients from DeSoto, Shelby, Tunica, Marshall and Tate Counties. For patients traveling farther, our team can help coordinate visits when possible.