Gummy smiles might endanger your smile’s health and make you hide it from the public. Get the crown lengthening treatment your smile deserves to keep it healthy and show it off.
A crown lengthening procedure may be necessary if there is insufficient tooth structure to support a filling or crown. This involves the removal of gum tissue to expose more of the tooth’s surface area. The most frequent scenario that requires attention is when a tooth fractures close to or at the gum line or when a crown or filling becomes dislodged, exposing decay beneath.
In cases where the tooth structure is insufficient to retain the crown independently, crown lengthening may be necessary. For example, it could be difficult for a crown to stay in place if a tooth is damaged or has cavities.
During crown lengthening, we will remove the gum tissue and, if necessary, shave down the bone so that more of the tooth is visible above the gum line. A well-fitted dental crown can improve oral hygiene and enhance the overall comfort.
Some people have crown lengthening to correct a “gummy smile,” in which the gums are visible when smiling.
At Zara Dental, providing patients with a temporary crown to wear prior to their procedure is common practice. The temporary crown serves the purpose of safeguarding your tooth until the placement of the permanent crown, and it also aids in achieving a better fit for the permanent crown.
Before your surgical procedure, you will have a consultation with the periodontist to discuss your medical history and present your radiographic images. Please inform your dentist about any medications you are currently taking during this appointment. They will let you know if you need to cease taking any of them due to the upcoming procedure.
Your periodontist will stretch your crown as an outpatient surgery. This means you are free to leave and return home. The duration of the procedure is contingent upon the number of teeth that require extraction and the necessity of removing both soft tissue and bone. If any of your adjacent teeth have provisional crowns, we may remove them before the treatment and reposition them after the procedure.
Typically, patients receive local anesthesia and may be administered a sedative medication for relaxation during the procedure. Next, we make a cut in the gums to pry them away from the teeth and reveal the bone and root structures. In certain instances, the gingival tissue may be the only thing that requires removal. The surgeon then rinses the surgical site with saline solution. Next, we suture the gums back together, and sometimes we apply a protective bandage over the area for additional safety.
Following the subsiding of the local anesthesia, you may experience discomfort, for which your dental surgeon will prescribe pain relievers and a specialized mouthwash to facilitate the healing of your gums.
Following the surgery, you will be provided with a mouth rinse and a prescription for pain relief medication. Additionally, we recommend that you consume a soft diet. After 7 to 10 days, your stitches will be removed, and you will be scheduled for a follow-up visit after approximately 4-6 weeks. Once the periodontal tissues fully recover, your dentist will install the permanent dental crown.
Your experienced dentist at Zara Dental Services in Houston will review the steps of the procedure with you in detail should crown lengthening be necessary for you. Briefly, during the administration of local anesthesia, the periodontist will excise a portion of the gingiva, revealing an adequate amount of the tooth’s roots to facilitate the placement of a filling or crown. In certain situations, extraction of the root’s bony structure may be necessary. Once enough tooth is visible; the dentists will utilize a sterile salt water bath to close the wounds.
After a crown lengthening procedure, you should be on the lookout for any problems. Problems are rare, but when they happen, they include:
If you have any of the above problems, you should call our dentists at Zara Dental right away so they can fix them.
For some time, your gums may be sensitive to hot and cold conditions.
Avoid foods that are hard, spicy, or sticky while you are healing.
The gums will heal faster if you eat soft foods and drink lots of water.
Don't smoke or drink alcohol for 7 to 10 days.
Don't pull your lip out to see the location of the surgery.
Set up a follow-up appointment with your dentist to check on your healing.
Your dental insurance or extended dental coverage may usually cover the cost of your crown lengthening. However, if you don’t have insurance or If you are looking for more information about the price of a specific service, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our expert Treatment Coordinators for help. They can help with putting together an affordable payment plan so you can get the dental treatment that you need.
We will be glad to file a predetermination for you to verify coverage of any necessary dental treatment. And we accept most PPO insurances.