A crown lengthening procedure is an oral surgery in which a portion of the mouth’s gum tissue, and bone, is removed to reveal a larger part of the tooth. The purpose of this procedure may be cosmetic, or it may be a recommended procedure for oral restoration. Learn more about if you are a candidate for crown lengthening.
What Does A Typical Crown Lengthening Procedure Entail?
A crown lengthening is a relatively standard and straightforward procedure. It typically involves a periodontist making small incisions around the teeth to separate the gum tissue from the teeth. From there, they will remove the desired amount of gum tissue and jawbone, clean out the area to help prevent infection, and suture the gum tissue back in place.
A periodontist will perform this procedure on one tooth or an entire smile. It all depends on the reason for the lengthening procedure. The stitches will be removed after a week. After this, the full gum recovery process for a healthy patient with no complications will take about 6-8 weeks.
In addition to this, a less invasive procedure for crown lengthening involves the removal of gum tissue only. This is called gingivectomy. In this procedure, the periodontist will remove gum tissue using a laser, scalpel, or electrocautery, typically warranting a quicker recovery time.
Cosmetic Reasons
A crown lengthening procedure can offer an excellent solution for a variety of candidates. One cosmetic reason why someone might opt for this surgery is a gummy smile. A ‘gummy smile,’ which occurs in 10% of adults aged 20 to 30 2, is an excess of gum tissue covering the teeth.
This causes teeth to look short and out of proportion in comparison to the gums while smiling. If you are unhappy with the appearance of your gummy smile, a lengthening procedure exposes more of the tooth to solve this aesthetic concern.
Additionally, an uneven gum line is another popular reason for crown lengthening. An uneven gum line can be from a dental issue or just naturally uneven. Fortunately, a lengthening procedure can work wonders at smoothing out the gum line to create an even smile.
Restorative Reasons
In addition to improving the appearance of patient’s a smile, crown lengthening is necessary for restoring damaged teeth. This includes the process of placing a dental crown. A dental crown is an artificial cap the dentist places over a tooth to restore its original appearance.
Sometimes, a lengthening operation is necessary when there isn’t enough tooth visible to properly fit the dental crown onto the tooth. This is an essential step in cases of broken or chipped teeth and severe tooth decay. In such cases, the periodontist will remove gum tissue to reveal more of the tooth to place the cap upon.
Crown Lengthening With Dental Implants Periodontal Health Of Rochester
Crown lengthening is an excellent solution for a more beautiful and healthy smile, whether for cosmetic or restorative purposes. As with any oral surgery, the best candidate for crown lengthening is someone with relatively healthy teeth and gums. That’s because better oral health results in a faster and more seamless recovery.
To see if this procedure is the best fit for you, our team of periodontists at Dental Implants & Periodontal Health of Rochester are here to help. Reach out to us online or by phone at 585.685.2005.
Sources:
[1] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/crown-lengthening#procedure
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470437/
