Dental crowns can improve the strength, appearance and integrity of your tooth but crown lengthening dental surgery may be recommended in preparation for the final restoration.

When Crown Lengthening Is Recommended

When a tooth needs to be fixed but not enough of the tooth sticks out above the gum to support a crown or filling, crown lengthening is recommended to support to the filling or crown. During this procedure, the surgeon removes gum tissue, bone or both to expose more of a tooth. This allows for the tooth to be restored prosthetically. Your tooth may be decayed, broken below the gum line or have insufficient tooth structure for the dental restoration. Crown lengthening adjusts the gum and bone level to expose more of the tooth so it can be restored. Only the tissue that is in the immediate area surrounding the tooth will be treated and there is no risk to the neighboring teeth.

Treatment Duration

Crown lengthening is a very common surgical procedure that takes about an hour. It can be completed with local anesthetics or sedatives. After a brief healing period (1-3 weeks), a follow-up evaluation is done. Once adequate healing has been achieved, the remainder of this treatment is completed with either a crown, filling or appropriate restoration.

Cosmetic Crown Lengthening

In addition to using crown lengthening for restoration purposes, crown lengthening can also be used for cosmetic purposes. When it comes to improving a smile most people think about orthodontics, teeth whitening or better hygiene solutions but no traditional solutions solve a “gummy smile.” A “gummy smile” is a condition where the gums cover too much of the teeth, therefore making the teeth look short and unattractive. Don’t let uneven gums and longer, over-bearing gums take away from your smile. If you are unhappy with your “gummy smile,” crown lengthening may be a potential solution. Call our office today to schedule your appointment. We are conveniently located in South Everett.