Are you seeking a radiant smile without the hindrance of excess gum tissue concealing your teeth? Don’t worry! The dentist in Dedham, MA, and their team of periodontists offer advanced cosmetic procedures to elevate your smile. Among these is crown lengthening, a highly desired technique for refining and restructuring your gums and supportive tissues, resulting in a more balanced and harmonious smile. Let’s delve deeper into this procedure.
Indications for crown lengthening
Crown lengthening is indicated for the below-mentioned reasons:
- Addressing aesthetic concerns caused by a gummy smile
- Exposing cavities beneath the gum line
- Revealing the fractured areas of the tooth
- Exposing more tooth structure before they can fit a device such as a bridge, or a crown
| 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. |
The procedure involved
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.
Post-procedure expectations and care
Following the procedure, you may encounter slight discomfort as the anesthesia wears off. However, this discomfort is transient and tends to diminish over time. Your dentist may recommend pain medications and a chlorhexidine mouth rinse to alleviate pain and discomfort and prevent infection. Additionally, it is advisable to steer clear of extremely hot or cold foods, as well as hard or chunky foods, during the initial recovery period for optimal healing.
Bottom line
Crown lengthening is a multifaceted procedure that offers numerous advantages and applications. Typically, it may require approximately three months for the gum tissues to fully heal. When executed by a proficient periodontist, you can anticipate excellent outcomes accompanied by a seamless recovery process.
