The crown of your tooth is the white part that’s visible above your gumline. Crown lengthening is a procedure to make tooth crowns longer, whether it’s for cosmetic purposes or part of a larger dental restoration.
Crown lengthening involves removing excess gum tissue, bone, or both to expose more of a tooth. J. Paul Fuentes, DDS, DABP, and Andrew Peterson, DMD, MS, as well as our team at Arcadia Perio, specialize in this common periodontal surgery.
It’s a flexible procedure for cosmetic and restorative dental treatment, but we understand that the thought of any dental procedure can be scary. Here are some things we recommend to help ease your anxiety before crown lengthening.
Learn what to expect during crown lengthening
Your gums naturally create a seal around your teeth to protect the tooth roots from bacteria and decay. But sometimes excess gum tissue can affect the look of your smile or get in the way of other dental treatments.
As a cosmetic procedure, crown lengthening treats gummy smiles by removing extra gum tissue to make teeth look longer. For restorations, crown lengthening creates more space on a tooth for treatments like crowns and bridges.
Regardless of the reasons you’re getting crown lengthening, the procedure itself is similar. Crown lengthening is an outpatient procedure that only requires local anesthesia, so you can go home the same day.
We begin by numbing your mouth, then we start cutting away excess gum tissue around one or more teeth. We may also remove some bone around the base of the teeth.
Then we clean the area and suture your gums. You can go home shortly after the procedure is over. The anesthesia starts wearing off within a few hours.
Prepare for crown lengthening recovery
Some pain is normal following crown lengthening, particularly after the local anesthetic wears off. Plan to take the rest of the day off work, and go home to rest after your procedure.
We give you instructions for recovery, including how to take care of your stitches. We may also prescribe pain medication and an oral rinse to help prevent infection as your gums heal.
Most people recover fully in about three months. If your crown lengthening procedure is part of a larger restoration, your follow-up appointments will be scheduled in 4-12 weeks.
Consider sedation to ease your nerves
If you’re still feeling anxious about your upcoming crown lengthening, talk to our team about your dental sedation options. Most crown lengthening procedures only require local anesthesia and you won’t feel any pain, but sedation can help relax you before and during the surgery.
We offer three different sedation options: nitrous oxide gas, oral, and intravenous sedation. Nitrous oxide gas is the lightest form of sedation, while oral and IV sedation provide heavier sedation.
Depending on your health and anxiety level, we can recommend the best option for you. Simply let us know you’re interested in sedation before your crown lengthening appointment, and we’ll discuss your options.
Crown lengthening is an effective way to make your teeth longer for aesthetic and functional reasons. Learn more with a consultation at our office in Arcadia, California. Book online now or call us at 626-662-1084.