Periodontal Oral or Gum Surgery Birmingham, AL
Esthetic Crown Lengthening Procedure
Dr. Maddux Discusses The Benefits Of Crown Lengthening
What is
Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure to remove excess gum tissue and sometimes bone. This exposes more of the natural tooth structure, and treatment can be carried out for several different reasons.
Why Is a Crown Lengthening Necessary
Crown lengthening procedure may be necessary for a couple of different situations. Some people simply have too much gum tissue covering up their teeth and need to have the levels adjusted to create a nicer smile. For others it will be necessary to remove some of the bone as well as gum tissue, lengthening the tooth so it looks more aesthetically pleasing.
After the crown lengthening surgery, the exposed tooth will need to be restored with a crown. Tooth lengthening can also be a useful procedure if a tooth breaks off right at the gum line, or if the tooth is extensively decayed and there isn’t enough of the natural structure left to fully restore it. In this case, the crown is lengthened through exposing more of the tooth underneath the gum line so it’s possible for the decay to be treated and the tooth restored with a crown.
Dr. Maddux Discusses The Benefits Of Crown Lengthening
What Is The Procedure?
Crown lengthening procedure is normally carried out under a local anesthetic, and small amounts of gum tissue can be easily removed through laser treatment. The length of tooth lengthening depends on the amount of gum tissue to be removed, and whether bone removal is required at the same time. Only the tissue surrounding the tooth will be treated with no risk to the neighboring teeth.
Dr. Maddux will carefully identify the amount of gum tissue or bone that needs removing, and these tissues will be gradually reshaped. Reshaping gum tissue is usually quite a quick procedure, particularly when using a laser as it immediately seals any small blood vessels so there is no need for sutures and very little discomfort or swelling. Treatment is likely to be a little longer if it’s necessary to remove bone.
How Long Does It Take To Heal?
Full crown lengthening recovery usually takes 1 to 2 weeks. However, patients can begin eating soft foods and return to work the day after crown lengthening surgery. You will need to go back for a follow-up visit 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure.
During your crown lengthening recovery, Dr. Maddux will provide you with full instructions on how to look after the surgery site. Once the anesthesia wears off, you may feel some pain and we may prescribe you pain relievers and a specialized chlorhexidine mouth rinse, depending on the extent of surgery. It’s best to follow a soft diet for the first few days until the area settles down.