What is the Crown Lengthening Procedure?
If you have excessive gingival tissue that results in your teeth appearing to be smaller than they are, or if you require a dental crown but do not have enough visible tooth to provide the proper grip, a crown lengthening procedure can be performed to create a more harmonious balance between your teeth and gums and/or create enough space to support a crown. This simple procedure involves surgically removing gum tissue in order to expose more of your tooth. In some cases it will also be necessary to remove some bone, but this is not always necessary.
Prior to removing the gum tissue, a local anesthetic is administered into the site to numb the area and ensure you do not experience any discomfort while this part of the procedure is being performed. Patients with extreme gum sensitivity may require multiple injections to sufficiently numb the area. Dental sedation may also be provided for patients who have difficulty achieving numbness or who have anxiety about having dental procedures performed.
Once the gum tissue has been removed, a sterile saltwater solution is used to rinse the area and stitches are used to maintain the new shape of the gum. Following this, a dressing is placed to cover the area and the procedure will be complete, unless the crown lengthening is being performed as part of placing a dental crown, in which case a follow-up appointment will be made approximately three months later to place the crown once the gums have healed.
Aftercare Instructions Following Crown Lengthening
Following your crown lengthening procedure, it is important to follow any aftercare instructions provided to you. If dental sedation was administered, it may be necessary to schedule someone to drive you home after your appointment, as the sedation effects can last for some time. Once the sedation wears off, you may begin to feel some discomfort and slight swelling. It is important to closely follow any post-procedural instructions provided to you, which may include the following:
- Discomfort: It is normal to feel mild discomfort following the crown lengthening procedure. Many patients are able to manage this discomfort with over-the-counter medications like Ibuprofen or Tylenol, although for patients who have a more intensive procedure or who have a low pain tolerance, a prescription for pain medication may be given.
- Swelling: Swelling is also common following a crown lengthening procedure, but should improve within a day or two. To help facilitate this process, place an ice pack over the swollen area for fifteen-minute intervals, leaving the bag on for fifteen minutes and leaving it off for fifteen minutes. Leaving the ice pack on for too long can restrict the blood flow, which will result in a prolonged healing process.
- Diet: Stick to softer foods following your crown lengthening procedure and slowly reintroduce harder foods as the area heals and sensitivity decreases.
- Infection: If prescribed antibiotics, take as directed until your prescription runs out to reduce your risk of developing an infection.
Once the healing process is complete, you can resume all normal activities and return to your standard oral hygiene routine.