Crown Lengthening
When you hear the term “crown” at the dentist, you likely think of the cap placed over a tooth to repair and protect it. And you’d be right. However, in dentistry, “crown” has another meaning as well.
Generally, “crown” refers to any tooth structure above the gumline. This term can describe the visible top part of your tooth, a cap placed on a damaged tooth, or even the artificial tooth attached to a titanium dental implant.
Crown lengthening is considered an oral surgery procedure and can be performed by a dentist or a specialist such as an oral surgeon or a periodontist (a dentist specializing in gum disease care). Depending on your specific needs, crown lengthening may be done on one or several teeth, based on the subsequent tooth repairs or replacements required. This procedure is simple enough to be performed in our office. To ensure your comfort, we will administer local anesthesia to numb the area. If you are anxious about dental treatments, we can also discuss the option of dental sedation to help you relax.
What Is Crown Lengthening
In crown lengthening, the “crown” refers to the visible portion of your natural tooth. Dental crown lengthening involves removing gum tissue and/or bone to expose more of the tooth, usually for repair purposes. If a tooth is broken off at the gum line due to an accident or decay, the dentist will perform crown lengthening before repairing it. This is necessary because there isn’t enough tooth structure above the gums for an artificial crown (or filling) to attach to. Fitting a crown on such a small foundation would result in an ill-fitting, uncomfortable restoration that is prone to irritation, chronic inflammation, and further decay and damage. Therefore, it’s better to remove some of the tissue around the tooth to properly seat the crown.
Procedure Overview
The first step of the procedure involves accessing the structure of your tooth. The dentist will make small incisions in your gum tissue to pull it away from the tooth, allowing access to the tooth root and bone. Often, a small amount of bone will also need to be removed in addition to gum tissue. After reshaping the bone, the area will be cleaned, and the gums will be stitched back together. Rest assured, you won’t feel any of this during the procedure as the area will be kept completely numb.
Crown lengthening is considered minor surgery, partly because patients generally report minimal pain during the recovery period. However, we understand that pain tolerance varies, so we will recommend or prescribe appropriate pain management medications to ensure your comfort after the procedure. We will also provide comprehensive instructions for home care to ensure the incisions heal properly and comfortably, including guidance on cleaning the area and brushing your teeth.
After about a week, you’ll return to the office for stitch removal and a check-up on your healing progress. Once your gums have fully healed, we’ll schedule an appointment for you to receive your permanent dental crown.