If you’re looking to fix your gummy smile, improve the health of your gum tissue, or prepare for restorative care, crown lengthening can set your smile up for success.
Crown lengthening is one of the best ways to eliminate excess gum tissue from around your teeth, and create a more balanced smile. It can help you restore your appearance and your self-confidence. And in some cases, it’s medically necessary. For example, if you have a damaged tooth that needs a dental crown, the crown lengthening procedure may be necessary to remove some gum tissue and prepare for the crown placement process.
The results of crown lengthening are permanent, so your smile will look more even, balanced, and beautiful for a lifetime.
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If you have a “gummy” smile, you may feel self-conscious about showing your teeth in social situations. With crown lengthening, your periodontist can expose more tooth material, create a more balanced appearance, and improve your confidence.
If not enough of your tooth is exposed, crown lengthening may be needed to expose more tooth structure in preparation for a dental crown or a similar restoration. It ensures that your follow-up procedure will be successful.
Crown lengthening treatment is permanent, and will keep your smile healthy and balanced for years to come.
To begin, your periodontist will clean your gums and mouth, and numb your mouth with a local anesthetic. Great care will be taken to make sure you feel minimal to no discomfort during the injection, and that you are kept comfortable throughout the procedure.
Next, your periodontist will use a soft-tissue laser around your teeth to reshape the gum tissue in the most precise and comfortable way possible. The underlying bone will be shaped to match the new contours of the gum so that the results are permanent. They will follow a custom surgical plan to make sure your new smile looks perfect.
Once your procedure is done, you’ll be sent home with instructions on how to rest, heal, and recover. Make sure you follow your instructions, and come to our office for any scheduled follow-ups so that your periodontist can check on your healing and recovery.
This depends on your insurance policy. Generally, insurers will cover medically necessary crown lengthening, but may not cover the procedure for cosmetic purposes. We will work with you and your insurer to help you learn more about your coverage and limits.
It may take up to 2-3 months for your gums to completely heal. However, you will only have about 2-3 days of downtime after your procedure. After this, you’ll mostly be able to resume your normal day-to-day activities.
You won’t feel any pain during your surgery. But after your numbing wears off, you may feel some discomfort. Your periodontist will give you a set of recovery instructions to follow, which will help you heal more quickly. Typically, you will be asked to rest for 2-3 days and eat soft foods for 1-2 weeks following your procedure. Gum tissues may continue to remodel and heal for 2-3 months after your procedure date. Follow the recovery instructions closely, and take any recommended or prescribed medication as directed.