Do you wish to have a healthy and beautifully aligned smile? But do excess gum tissues camouflage your teeth and steal the spark from your smile? Fret not! Our dentist in Upper East Side, New York has solutions to all your oral problems. We bring you state-of-the-art cosmetic smile enhancement procedures to improve the symmetry and alignment of your smile. One of the effective cosmetic smile enhancement procedures that we offer is crown lengthening.
Crown lengthening is a popular cosmetic procedure performed to resculpt and reshape your gums and supporting structures. Let’s delve into the details further.
What is crown lengthening?
Crown lengthening is a common dental procedure designed to reshape your gums at the base of the affected tooth to improve the way these soft tissues look. It is typically performed by a periodontist to enhance your smile.
Why is it performed?
Crown lengthening is indicated for the following reasons:
- To address aesthetic concerns caused by a gummy smile
- To expose cavities beneath the gum line
- To expose the fractured areas of the tooth
- To expose more tooth structure before they can fit a device such as a bridge, or a crown
How is crown lengthening performed?
Crown lengthening is performed under local anesthesia (a numbing agent) to ease pain and discomfort.
The steps are as follows:
- If you have temporary crowns in your adjacent teeth, your dentist will remove them for better access.
- Small incisions (cuts) will be made on the gums (depending on the number of teeth involved) and pulled away to expose the underlying roots and bone.
- Depending on your individual need, your dentist will remove only the gum tissues or may even remove part of your bone. This can be done using a combination of hand and rotary instruments.
- The surgical area will be thoroughly cleaned with an antiseptic solution.
- The incision will then be closed using sutures, and a periodontal pack will be placed for healing and additional protection.
What to expect after a crown lengthening procedure?
After the procedure, you may experience mild pain and discomfort once the effect of anesthesia wears off. This is temporary and may resolve gradually. Your dentist will prescribe medications for pain relief and a chlorhexidine mouth rinse to prevent infection. Furthermore, for optimal recovery, you must avoid extreme hot or cold and hard or chunky foods for the initial few days.
Usually, it may take 3 months for the gum tissues to heal completely.
Conclusion
Crown lengthening is a versatile procedure with many uses and benefits. When performed by a skilled periodontist, you can expect optimal results with a smooth recovery period.