How Long Does Crown Lengthening Take?
One important thing to be aware of when considering whether to get a crown lengthening procedure is that it will take several visits spread out over a few months to complete this process. While every patient will have a slightly different experience depending on their unique oral health needs, in most cases the steps involved for the crown lengthening procedure will include the following:
- Initial consultation: During your initial consultation, your periodontist will perform a thorough evaluation of your overall oral health and take any x-rays ort other diagnostic exams if necessary. A temporary crown may also be placed (if necessary) and a follow up appointment will be scheduled.
- Crown lengthening procedure: The length of time your procedure will take will largely depend on how many teeth are being treated and where they are located. For example, crown lengthening that is occurring on one tooth that needs a crown will take much less time than a crown lengthening procedure that is addressing multiple teeth to correct a gummy smile. If you are concerned about the length of procedural time, talk to your periodontist about dental sedation options, which can help reduce anxiety and make the appointment feel like it goes faster.
- Recovery period: It is normal to experience some discomfort and swelling for the first two or three days following your crown lengthening procedure. This can usually be managed with ice pack therapy and over the counter or prescription pain medication. It is important to take these as directed, especially prescription pain medication, which can cause some side effects to occur, such as nausea, dizziness, or vertigo. To help speed up this recovery process, try to rest as much as possible and avoid intense physical activities. You should also stick to a soft food diet for the first few days and reintroduce harder foods gradually. During this period, it is important to avoid brushing or flossing the surgical area, although it is important to continue your normal oral hygiene habits for other areas of the mouth.
- Follow-up appointment: A follow up appointment may be scheduled within 10-14 days of the procedure to monitor your progress, and if necessary, remove stitches if dissolvable ones were not used. If at any point between your crown lengthening procedure and this visit you experience excessive pain or bleeding or have concerns that you may have developed an infection or other complication, contact your periodontist as soon as possible to see if more immediate care is required. There are very few risks associated with the crown lengthening procedure, however, as with any surgical procedure, there is a possibility of developing an infection following your procedure, especially if aftercare instructions are not closely followed.
- Placement of the crown: For patients who are having the crown lengthening procedure performed in order to have a dental crown placed, it will take approximately four to six weeks for the gums to fully heal and be ready to support a permanent crown.