What Is Crown Lengthening?
Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure performed when a tooth needs to be fixed or repaired and there is not enough of the tooth protruding from the gums to support a crown.The oral surgeon will go in and remove some of the gum tissue and or bone so more of the natural tooth is exposed. It often helps to improve the health of the gums and prepare the mouth to support a filling or crown.
Common Reasons For Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening can be performed for both health and aesthetic reasons. If you have damaged or decayed teeth from periodontal disease, crown lengthening can be used to prepare the mouth and teeth for further restoration procedures. Crown lengthening can also be performed to expose more of the natural tooth so it can better support a crown or filling. “Gummy Smile” is often fixed by crown lengthening and is strictly aesthetic. Those that have excess gums covering their teeth can use crown lengthening to improve the appearance of their smile.
What Is Involved In The Procedure?
Crown lengthening is a very common procedure that is performed under anesthesia. The oral surgeon will make small cuts around the necessary teeth to pull the gums away from the teeth and expose the roots. Depending on the patient, the surgeon may only need to remove gum tissue, while other times they may need to remove bone as well. Once enough tooth is exposed, the surgeon will sew the gums back together. The healing process then begins. After 1-2 weeks you will need to get you stitches removed and then it will take the gums about 3-4 months to fully heal before a crown can be placed.
Crown Lengthening At Dr. Adams
If you are interested in crown lengthening for oral health or aesthetic reasons, Dr. Adams and his team of dental specialists can help! Whether you have damaged teeth or a gummy smile, consult with Dr. Adams to see if crown lengthening is a good option for your mouth. Let us help you get the smile you’ve always wanted.