You may have come across the term crown lengthening. It is a dental procedure that may sound complicated but is actually pretty simple and very helpful for the teeth. Now, let’s dive into what crown lengthening is, why people get it, how the procedure works, recovery, and some thoughtful considerations.
What is Crown Lengthening?
Crown lengthening is when a dentist near you removes some of the gum tissue and occasionally some bone surrounding a tooth to expose more of the tooth. This may prove necessary for a variety of reasons. This may be for appearance reasons alone, where someone thinks that they have too “gummy” of a smile.
Other times, it is performed because a tooth requires a new crown—meaning the cap to be placed over a damaged tooth—and there isn’t enough of the tooth above the gum line to support this.
Why Do People Get Crown Lengthening?
A couple of key reasons people get crown lengthening are:
- Cosmetic Reasons: Some patients have the feeling that their teeth are too short and show too much of their gums to the eye when smiling; this condition is often called a “gummy smile.” Also, your teeth might look longer and more symmetrical because of crown lengthening.
- Restorative Reasons: In the event that your tooth is broken or has a large cavity below the gum line, there may not be enough tooth available for the dentist to build on. Crown lengthening helps the dentist place a filling or crown by exposing more of your tooth.
- Health Reasons: Teeth or gums sometimes have problems that need crown lengthening to help with their fixation. For instance, if the tooth has decayed under the gum line, then crown lengthening has to be performed for the proper cleaning of the decay.
How It’s Done
The crown lengthening procedure typically involves these steps:
Before the procedure is done, your dentist will take X-rays and examine your teeth in order to make a treatment plan. He might clean your teeth to remove plaque or tartar.
Next, your dentist will numb the area around the tooth on the day of the procedure, using local anesthesia. So if you’re wondering, Does crown lengthening hurt?, you will not have any pain while the procedure is going on.
Further, the dentist will gently cut and fold back the gums to expose more of the tooth. He may further remove a small amount of bone next to the tooth if need be. The amount of gum and bone removed is dependent on the portion of the tooth that needs to be exposed.
Now that the appropriate amount of tooth has been revealed, the dentist will stitch and reposition the gums. Possibly, a bandage will be placed there to cover the area and serve as a barrier to protect it from irritation during the healing process.
Recovery
The recovery period for the crown lengthening procedure could take a few days or even weeks. Here is what one can expect:
Pain and Swelling: You may experience some pain and swelling after the procedure. Its management, which includes prescriptions for pain relievers and ice packs, is done by the dentist.
Oral hygiene: The mouth should be kept as clean as possible to prevent infection. Brushing and flossing around the treated area will be advised by the dentist. Also, a special mouth rinse can help the patient.
Diet: Avoid hard foods for some days. Do not have food that is too hot or cold. Avoid spicy foods, as they will irritate the area.
Follow-up Visits: You will have to pay a visit for follow-up checkups to make sure everything is healing properly.
Things to Consider
Before you finally do the crown lengthening procedure, here are a few things that you need to consider:
- Cost: Crown lengthening is very costly. It can be really expensive if it is done for cosmetic reasons and your insurance company refuses to cover you for the treatment. Discuss your costs with your dentist.
- Benefits vs. Risks: Though crown lengthening will enhance the aesthetics of your smile, making dental procedures easier, it is an oral surgery in Blackfalds. It thus comes with attendant risks of infection or bleeding, so the benefits must be weighed against the risks.
- Alternative Treatments: Check with your dentist to see if there might be another kind of therapy that would help your situation. Sometimes, the less-invasive options can indeed end up being just as effective.
- Long-Term Care: It is essential to have good oral hygiene after crown lengthening. This may facilitate the healing process and help the area stay healthy.
Schedule a Crown Lengthening Consultation With Alpen Dental
It may turn out to be very helpful in improving both the looks of teeth and health. Knowing the procedure, how to recover after crown lengthening, and weighing benefits vs. risks will make you well informed about deciding whether to choose crown lengthening or not.
You can always discuss your situation with our dentist, open on Saturday, for personalized advice and answers to specific questions. Because at Alpen Dental, we believe that no patient should remain unheard. Our expert dental staff will help you from start to finish, and together we will overcome your dental condition.
