What is Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is generally performed to improve the health of the gum tissue or to prepare the mouth for restorative or cosmetic procedures.  In addition, crown lengthening procedures can also be used to correct a “gummy” smile, where teeth are covered with excess gum tissue.  Crown lengthening exposes more of the natural tooth by reshaping or recontouring bone and gum tissue.  This treatment can be performed on a single tooth, many teeth, or the entire gum line, exposing an aesthetically pleasing smile.

Reasons for crown lengthening

Crown lengthening is a versatile and common procedure that has many effective uses and benefits.  The vast majority of patients who have undergone this type of surgery are highly delighted with the results.

Here are some of the most common reasons for crown lengthening:

• Restoration of damaged teeth – Periodontal disease can cause severe damage to the teeth, as can trauma and decay. Where teeth have been broken beneath the gum line, crown lengthening can be used to prepare the area for a new restoration to correct the damaged teeth.
• Cosmetic uses – Extra gum tissue can make teeth look unnaturally short and can also increase susceptibility to periodontal infections. Removing excess gum tissue can restore a balanced, healthy look and improve the aesthetic appearance of the smile.
• Dental crowns – Crown lengthening provides more space between the supporting jawbone and the dental crown. This prevents the new crown from damaging gum tissues and bone once it is in place.

What does crown lengthening involve?

Crown lengthening is normally performed under local anesthetic.  The amount of time this procedure takes will largely depend on how many teeth are involved and whether a small amount of bone needs to be removed along with the soft tissue.  Any existing dental crowns will be removed before the procedure and replaced immediately afterward.

Your dentist will make a series of small incisions around the soft tissue to separate the gums away from the teeth.  Even if only one tooth requires the re-contour, neighboring teeth are usually treated to provide a more even reshaping.  Separating the gums provides your dentist with access to the roots of the teeth and the underlying bone.

In some cases, the removal of a small amount of tissue will provide enough tooth exposure to place a crown.  In other cases, your dentist will also need to remove a small amount of bone from around the teeth.  The bone is usually removed using a combination of special hand instruments, and rotary instruments.  The rotary instruments roughly resemble the drill that is used in cavity treatment.

The teeth will look noticeably longer immediately after surgery because the gums will have been repositioned. The teeth will look noticeably longer immediately after surgery because the gums have now been repositioned.

Your dentist will secure the surgical site using an intraoral (periodontal) bandage which serves to prevent infection.  Prescriptions may be provided for pain medication, and a chlorhexidine (antimicrobial) mouth rinse may be given to help reduce any bacteria attempting to re-colonize.  The surgical site will be completely healed in approximately two to three months.

If you have any questions about crown lengthening, please contact Mina Family Dentistry, One of the best Markham Dental practices!

crown lengthening

Crown lengthening is a dental process designed to expose the surface of the tooth by reshaping the gum tissue, and sometimes the underlying bone. This process is necessary when a tooth needs to be repaired, but there isn’t enough tooth to hold a restoration, such as a filling or a crown. Crown lengthening can also be used for appearance reasons, to improve the appearance of teeth by making them appear longer and larger. The process involves removing excess gum tissue and some bone to create a better gum line.

purpose of crown lengthening

The purpose of crown lengthening extends beyond just the technical aspect of preparing a tooth for restoration. The process is also used to create a more balanced smile by fixing issues that are related to gum tissue sometimes referred to as “gummy smile”.

restoration of damaged teeth

Crown lengthening is a critical procedure in the process of restoring damaged teeth, especially when the damage extends below the gum line or when there is insufficient tooth structure to support a restoration like a crown. The additional exposure is crucial for creating a crown, preventing future complications and issues such as loosening of teeth or failure of the crown.

How crown lengthening aids in restoring damaged teeth

Crown lengthening is important particularly when dealing with teeth that have experienced decay or trauma. In many cases the damage goes beyond the gum line, making it difficult to effectively repair the tooth with traditional methods. Crown lengthening addresses and fixes this issue by reshaping the gum and bone to expose more of the structure of the tooth.

This exposure is important for securing a dental crown or filling it ensures that the filling has a foundation and can function effectively.

cosmetic uses of crown lengthening

In addition to improving the proportions of the teeth, crown lengthening can also be used to create a more uniform gum line, which is essential for a pleasant-looking smile. Uneven gum can cause teeth to look misaligned and mismatched in size or shape, even if the teeth are in good shape.

By reshaping the gum tissue the dentists at mina family dentistry in Thornhill, correct these issues to ensure that the gum line matches the teeth, this minor adjustment has a dramatic effect on the overall appearance of the smile, providing a great and polished appearance.

FAQ

What is crown lengthening?

Crown lengthening is the dental process designed to expose more of the natural tooth by reshaping the gum and in some cases the bone.

Why would I need crown lengthening?

Restorative needs, e.g. if a tooth is damaged or decayed below the gum line, crown lengthening can expose more of the tooth structure to support a filling or a crown.

How is the crown lengthening procedure performed?

The procedure is performed under anesthesia, your dentist will make some incisions in the gum tissue to separate it from the teeth exposing the roots in the process, depending on the case, a small amount of bone may be removed, and the gums are repositioned and secured with some bandages afterward.

Is crown lengthening painful?

Crown lengthening is performed under anesthesia, so the patients do not feel any kind of pain during the process. However, some discomfort may be experienced.

How long does it take to recover from crown lengthening?

The healing process takes a few days to a week. However, the surgical site will be healed within 2 to 3 months.