What Does a Crown Lengthening Do?
Crown lengthening is a process in dentistry where the gum tissue or bone is removed to expose more of a tooth. This procedure is common in dentistry and is often used during root canals and sometimes for fillings. Crown lengthening is necessary when a tooth needs to be treated but very less of it sticks above the gum to support a filling or a crown. This can be due to the tooth breaking off at the gum line.
A crown lengthening also occurs when there is decay underneath a tooth and the crown or filling falls out. If the dentist needs to do a filling or replace the crown, he will need to expose more of the tooth. Therefore the gum tissue and sometimes the bone around the affected tooth need to be removed.
Another condition for which crown lengthening may be needed is known as “gummy smile.” Some people have a lot of gum tissue around their upper teeth. To improve their smile, their dentist will conduct a crown lengthening. With more of the crown exposed, the smile looks much more appealing. How it’s done The procedure involves the use of local anesthesia. The time required for the whole treatment depends on the number of teeth that need to be lengthened. If only one tooth needs to be lengthened, even then the neighboring teeth are included in the treatment in order to give a natural look to the reshaped gum tissue.
Through this process, a dentist makes cuts to pull gums away from the teeth. If removing the gum tissue isn’t enough, the dentist will expose the root and bone as well until he has enough space to place a crown or filling on your tooth. When he is satisfied with the exposed area, your gums will be washed with a saline solution and your gums will be stitched together. After the surgery, you will be given pain relievers and mouth rinsing solutions. You will also be recommended to follow a soft diet. Risks Bleeding during the surgery is common and the area may also bleed for a while after the surgery. Like all other surgical procedures, there is a risk of infection as well. Infections can be prevented by following hygiene techniques and taking proper medication as advised by your dentist.
After this procedure, many people experience increased sensitivity to hot and cold. The increased sensitivity is due to the roots being exposed to substances entering the mouth. Sensitivity usually goes away with time as your nerves adapt to the new environment. If you are going to have a crown placed on the tooth, the sensitivity will go away immediately. Some people are also concerned about the fact that the lengthened tooth will look longer than those surrounding it. However, aesthetics aside, crown lengthening procedure greatly help in providing people with relief from tooth problems as well as help to make your mouth and gums feel comfortable.