Crown Lengthening
What is crown lengthening?
Crown lengthening is a periodontal procedure that removes excess gum tissue for either aesthetic or restorative reasons. When teeth appear small and disproportionate, excessive gum tissue may be the cause The crown is the visible area of a tooth above the gums, so crown lengthening increases the exposure of the crown by removing both hard and soft tissues covering the tooth. Crown lengthening also reshapes the gum line in order to provide for a more attractive smile. At DFW Implant Team, board-certified periodontist, Dr. Donald Steinberg, provides both functional and cosmetic (or aesthetic) crown lengthening procedures for patients across the DFW Metroplex.
Oftentimes your primary dentist may provide a referral for crown lengthening, as it can be performed when a crown or filling needs to be placed or repaired, but a referral is not required.
What are the benefits of crown lengthening?
Crown lengthening can provide a variety of benefits and is often performed as a part of other oral and dental health procedures. Whether you are looking for aesthetic or functional crown lengthening, some of the reasons to schedule an appointment with Dr. Steinberg for a crown lengthening procedure include:
To improve a "gummy smile"
To restore damaged teeth
To prepare for a dental crown
To fix a crown or filling
To improve tooth appearance after braces or orthodontics
How is a crown lengthening procedure performed?
Whether Dr. Donald Steinberg is performing an aesthetic or functional crown lengthening, the procedure is essentially the same. In order to prepare your teeth for the crown lengthening procedure, dental X-rays will be taken and a professional cleaning performed on your teeth. Once the teeth and mouth are prepared, local anesthesia will be administered in order to eliminate discomfort. Dr. Donald Steinberg will use surgical instruments to make incisions in the gums and then pull the excess gum tissue away from the teeth. In some cases, Dr. Steinberg may expose some of the tooth root to have the right amount of tooth showing in relation to the gums. After the gumline is even and natural looking, the treated area will be washed with a sterile saline solution and the incisions made in the gums will be stitched.
How do I care for my gums after a crown lengthening procedure?
After a crown lengthening procedure is performed, ice packs should be held on the face in order to reduce any swelling. Pain relievers may be recommended or prescribed as well. Typically after a crown lengthening procedure, soft foods or a liquid diet is recommended for 1 - 2 days. If stitches were used at the incision site, Dr. Donald Steinberg will ask that you return to the office in 7 - 10 days in order to have the stitches removed. The gums should be fully healed in about 3 months.