Do I Need Crown Lengthening?

When it comes to the anatomy of a tooth, the tooth consists of two parts. First the crown, which is visible to the eye, and second the root which is below the surface of the gum line. The objective of mobile alabama crown lengthening is to change the ratio and give the tooth more visible crown by removing some of the soft gum tissue around the tooth. The reasoning for crown lengthening is quite diverse, from pure cosmetics to a functional application.

Some of the Reasons behind considering Crown Lengthening

First, from a functional point of view, a tooth may need to be fixed. Such as a tooth that breaks right above the gum line. Or a crown or large filling that falls out and exposes decay underneath. In these situations, the dentist needs more tooth to work with to accomplish the repair. This can easily be done by removing some of the gum tissue.

A cosmetic reason is if your gums and crowns are out of proportion. When you smile do you see more gums than desired? This is called a gummy smile and can easily be treated and corrected with a crown lengthening procedure.

The Crown Lengthening Procedure

In most cases the first thing that is done is to have your teeth professionally cleaned. This sets a new benchmark prior to the procedure. A local anesthetic is administered to numb the soft tissue involved. The traditional method is simple periodontal surgery of removing the excess gum with a surgical scalpel. The soft tissue will be trimmed away exposing more of the tooth. Sometimes sutures are necessary to stitch the gums together. There may be some bleeding and swelling but both will go away with a short recover period. A pain reliever may be prescribed as well as regular rinsing. A soft diet will be advised as well.

Another growing option is that of the crown lengthening procedure being done by a laser. This not only cuts the soft tissue but cauterizes the tissue at the same time eliminating any bleeding.

The benefits of undergoing Crown Lengthening

Your dentist is trained to do everything possible to keep your natural teeth. So, if the crown lengthening, from a repair point of few, eliminates extraction, then by all means perceive that as a benefit. Even a crown is perceived as beneficial over a bridge or a dental implant. If it is to minimize your gummy smile and find more appropriate proportions of your crown to root ration it will dramatically improve your smile. This in turn has been proven to positively affect your self-esteem and your self-confidence.

Healing and Recovery Time

The crown lengthening procedure results in only a day or two of downtime. If there were stitches involved they will need to be removed in a week to 10 days. If the work was for a gummy smile you may follow up in four to six weeks to confirm all is well. If the objective was to complete a repair crown it may take several months till the tooth and surrounding tissue are ready for that next step.

More on Crown Lengthening : How Long Does Crown Lengthening Take?