Crown lengthening

What is Crown Lengthening?

It is a very popular procedure in different clinical situations: when decay occurs below the gumline, it may be necessary to remove a small amount of bone and gum tissue, and when too much tooth structure is covered by the gum or/and the bone. The patient can require this procedure before a new crown is done for for the tooth.

Crown Lengthening Procedure

Crown Lengthening procedures are done for both restorative dentistry and/or to improve the esthetics of your gum line. General practitioners often refer for crown lengthening procedures prior to restoration of broken or severely decayed teeth. This procedure adjusts the gum and bone level to expose more of the tooth so it can be restored.
Sometimes crown lengthening is done to improve a “gummy” smile because the teeth appear short. The teeth may actually be the proper length but excess gum tissue may be covering these teeth. During this procedure, excess gum and bone tissue is reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth.
Whether the patient hase crown lengthening to improve function or esthetics, hes often receives the benefits of both: a beautiful new smile and improved periodontal health – important keys to smiling, eating and speaking with comfort and confidence.

Crown Lengthening Recovery

Following surgery, you’ll be given a prescription for a pain reliever and instructed to use ice to reduce any swelling. You’ll want to eat a diet of fairly soft foods and brush your teeth carefully in the area near the stitches, which will come out in 7 to 10 days.
Complete healing of the gums can take up to three months, however. At that point, you may opt to have veneers or another cosmetic dentistry procedure done, such as bonding or tooth whitening.

Crown Lengthening Before and After