Are you bothered about having a gummy smile? Do you wish to enhance your smile? Well, there are several cosmetic procedures, and one among them is crown lengthening. Apart from cosmetic purposes, it offers several other benefits as well.
If your dentist in Lakeview, Chicago has recommended a crown lengthening procedure, here is a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about the procedure.
An overview of crown lengthening
Crown lengthening is a simple surgical procedure where the position of the gum tissue around a tooth is adjusted to expose more of the tooth structure.
Crown lengthening may be performed for the following reasons:
- Cosmetic purpose
- Extra gum tissues seen in patients with a gummy smile can make your teeth look unnaturally short. Removal of excess gum tissues can restore and improve the aesthetic appearance of your smile.
- Restoration of damaged teeth
- Periodontal disease, dental decay, and trauma can cause severe damage to the teeth. In such cases, crown lengthening becomes necessary when the damage occurs below the gum line, making it difficult to access the area for restoring the damaged teeth.
- Fabrication of dental crowns
- Due to insufficient space between the crown and jawbone, dental crowns can harm the gum tissues and the underlying bone. Crown lengthening can correct this flaw since crowns with a good fit allow better oral hygiene and comfort.
Potential benefits of crown lengthening
Crown lengthening offers the following major benefits:
- Reduces the risk of caries by eliminating extra gum tissue that may inhibit regular brushing in those areas.
- Improves your smile by evening out an inconsistent gum line that is too high and hides your pearly whites.
- Supports a filling or a crown by setting the gum line in a proper position to seal the gums to the restoration.
The process of crown lengthening
Crown lengthening is performed under local anesthesia to ease pain and discomfort. Your dentist will:
- Isolate the tooth where there is a need for removal of the gum tissue.
- Make a small incision or cut near the gum tissue and a flap will be raised.
- Cauterize the excess gum tissue, and if necessary, also remove a small portion of the bone.
- Disinfect the surgical area and suture the incision site.
Currently, many dentists have been opting for minimally invasive techniques using laser technology for crown lengthening. This offers quick recovery and optimal healing, with minimum post-op complications.
Final note
Excess gum tissue can be aesthetically unappealing. This can steal the spark from your smile. Do not ignore or wait for the problem to worsen. Consult your dentist to get yourself evaluated and discuss if crown lengthening is the best possible solution for you.
