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Crown
Lengthening
Crown
lengthening is done when a tooth needs to be
fixed. Sometimes, not enough of the tooth
sticks out above the gum to support a
filling or crown.
This can happen when a tooth breaks off at
the gum line. It also can happen when a
crown or filling falls out of a tooth and
there is decay underneath. To place a
filling or crown, your dentist needs to
expose more of the tooth. This is done by
removing some gum tissue or bone. Some
people have a lot of gum tissue around their
upper teeth. Dentists call this "gummy
smile." This also can be treated with crown
lengthening.
Crown lengthening is done using local
anesthesia. How long it takes will depend on
the number of teeth that need treatment.
Even if only one tooth is involved, crown
lengthening typically includes neighboring
teeth, too. That allows the tissues to be
reshaped gradually. If both bone and soft
tissue are removed, the procedure will take
longer than if only soft tissue is removed.
The periodontist will make cuts that will
pull the gums away from the teeth. This will
expose the roots of the teeth and the
surrounding bone. In some cases, simply
removing a little gum tissue will expose
enough tooth for your dentist to place a
crown or filling. However, in most cases,
the periodontist will need to remove some
bone from around the roots of the teeth.
Once the periodontist has exposed enough
tooth, the surgical area will be washed with
sterile salt water and the gums will be
stitched together. Some dentists put a
bandage over the stitches.
If you have temporary crowns on any of the
involved teeth, the crowns may be removed
before the procedure begins. The
periodontist will put them back afterward.
You will be given prescriptions for a pain
reliever and a mouth rinse. Your dentist
will ask you to follow a somewhat soft diet.
You can brush the teeth near the stitches,
but avoid the gums. Remove food particles
with a toothpick or a water irrigator.
Acknowledgement: Information above is
courtesy of American Academy of
Periodontology. |
