KS
Krista Savage-White
Feb 28, 2026
There isn’t enough space to explain how life-affirming crown lengthening surgery was for me! I wore braces twice, but I had desperately wanted my gums contoured since I was 14 years old due to an uneven gum line. I waited several months to write this review, because I wanted my gums to fully heal and maturate first. But enough time has passed, and I can earnestly say that it was a teenage dream fulfilled.
Aesthetic crown lengthening was performed on 10 of my upper teeth, and it took a little less than an hour to complete. Post-surgical instructions were very clear, and whenever I emailed the office with questions, they got back to me in a timely manner.
Dr. Hoag was the perio who took on my case, and in my book he’s a golden egg! During the consultation, he exhibited great knowledge and trustworthiness. Despite only being in my early 20s, Dr. Hoag never tried to cut me off when I stated my thoughts or provided additional context I felt was relevant. He was honest about the nature of my case without being condescending or patronizing.
Then on the day of surgery (6/30/25), Dr. Hoag was very congenial, attentive, and confident. He basked in my excitement the entire time and stated that the end result would be beautiful. The periodontal assistant (Laura if I’m correct) is another golden egg who carried those same exact traits. I’ll never forget her hand on my left shoulder as I received those shots, which were extremely painful, but I laughed it off afterward.
Both Dr. Hoag and Laura worked in coordination with each other during crown lengthening surgery. But before they started suturing my gums, Dr. Hoag said, “It looks beautiful!” And Laura said, “It really is beautiful; can’t wait for you to see!” I was very flattered that both of them thought that about my teeth before they had even finished the procedure.
Although while suturing my gums, Dr. Hoag told a weird story about his random bat encounter and how he handled it. Which, I didn't know bats existed in Hampton Roads, and casually telling that story while operating on me was bizarre. Even so, I found it endearing that he told a comedic story from his own life. It’s like I was a new friend or part of a social group.
When the procedure was done, both he and Laura eagerly found me a mirror. I jokingly quoted the viral TikTok sound “please don’t be ugly,” but the mirror’s reflection left me smiling so big! Dr. Hoag got a real kick out of seeing my reaction, and he complimented me by saying my beautifully-aligned teeth had just had their beauty enhanced by increased tooth surface exposure. My inner teenager was awestruck, and I gave him and Laura very tight hugs!
Before the surgery, I felt massively insecure about my smile, which gravely affected my self-esteem in ways far too personal to publicly detail. Though now, I adore my teeth and their natural characteristics. They’re the right size for my face and look so stunning, I could go weak. Aesthetic crown lengthening altered my brain chemistry and gave me the most optimistic outlook on life I've ever had. I'm so excited to start dating, building my career, and doing all the things while showing off my stunning smile!
From all parts of my heart, thank you SO VERY MUCH, Dr. Hoag and Laura, for beautifying my teeth and gums! The surgery uplifted my soul more than y’all will ever know, and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.
P.S. I also thank you both for your patience during my follow-up appt on 8/28/25. I was unintentionally late for it since I failed to account for not just High Rise traffic, but also Hwy 58 expansion traffic. (I had forgotten about it after returning to central NC for uni.) Y'all could’ve rushed me out the door or visibly came across as annoyed, but you didn’t. Really I was rushing myself out, because I felt so ashamed about nearly missing my follow-up.
Laura, you were so sweet to ask me about something I had said on the day of surgery. I was surprised you had remembered it two months post-op, but it warmed my heart. I truly have zero regrets about paying for crown lengthening on my own.