What is the crown lengthening procedure?

Crown lengthening in columbus oh is a dental procedure that people undergo for a few different reasons. Cosmetic crown lengthening treatment can improve a gummy smile; when a person’s teeth are covered with an excess amount of gum tissue, it may make the teeth appear shorter than they are. If your gummy smile makes you self-conscious about smiling, you may want to talk to a periodontist about a crown lengthening procedure. Some dental crown lengthening procedures are performed for medical reasons, as opposed to the aesthetic repair of a gummy smile. If your tooth has decayed beneath the gumline, your dentist may need to refer you for a crown lengthening procedure in order to expose the decayed portion of the tooth by freeing it from the gums. If your tooth is broken under the gumline, the only way to access the tooth to restore it may be through lifting away the gum tissue with a crown lengthening procedure. If you have insufficient available tooth structure for a restoration, which could include a crown or a bridge, you may require a crown lengthening procedure, which will create a greater available amount of exposed tooth. In all medical cases, crown lengthening treatment modifies the amount of gum tissue that covers the tooth, allowing the tooth to be restored. In some medical cases, a small amount of bone may also be removed or modified as part of the crown lengthening procedure, to provide greater access to the tooth that is being treated or restored.

The crown lengthening procedure is a relatively simple surgical procedure in which excess gum tissue and bone is modified and sculpted to expose a larger portion of the natural tooth. Some patients undergo a crown lengthening procedure on just one tooth, especially if the procedure is for therapeutic reasons, such as restoring a damaged or decayed tooth. For example, if there is a cavity present beneath a person’s gumline, a crown lengthening procedure will expose the portion of the tooth that requires restoration. Some patients have all or part of their gumline resculpted through crown lengthening, which can repair an irregular gumline and restore it to a more aesthetically symmetrical shape. When patients have a gummy smile, which is defined as having in excess of 3 millimeters of exposed gum while smiling, it is likely that they will undergo a crown lengthening procedure on an entire row of teeth, exposing more of the surface of the teeth to make the smile more attractive. Crown lengthening procedures are performed by periodontists, who are experts in procedures and diseases of the gums. During the procedure, periodontists are very cautious about preserving as much gum tissue as possible, which maintains the mechanics and health of the teeth. If you need crown lengthening for medical reasons, your dentist will determine this during your dental examinations and will make the necessary referrals. If you may be interested in a crown lengthening procedure for cosmetic purposes, talk to your dentist, and ask for a referral to a periodontist to learn more details about your specific procedure. Whether for medical or cosmetic reasons, a crown lengthening procedure can help restore your smile to a more attractive state, boosting your confidence and maintaining your oral health.

More on Crown Lengthening : Pain, Healing & Risks Associated with Crown Lengthening