Vancouver Dentist discusses dental crown lengthening.
Crown Lengthening
These days, it seems there are beautiful, bright, perfect smiles look back at us from the pages of magazines and TV screens. And while some people are just naturally blessed with beautiful teeth, many of us are not so lucky. And this is where cosmetic dentistry comes into play.
A very common issue we see here at Enhance Dental Centre is patients complaining that their teeth are too small, and that they have a gummy smile. There are several options available to correct this, including bonding, veneers, and implants. Another procedure we commonly perform is called crown lengthening.
What is Crown Lengthening?
Crown lengthening is a procedure that actually involves altering the gum tissue so as to expose more of the tooth’s surface by reducing the amount of tissue along the gum line. The procedure is also knows as a gum lift.
The procedure has been used for many years mainly as a way to treat gum disease, but has more recently been adopted purely as a form of cosmetic dentistry.
Why is Crown Lengthening Performed?
One of the main reasons crown lengthening is performed, is for patients who were born with naturally small teeth. In order to uncover or reveal more of the tooth’s surface, the gums can be surgically trimmed back. In more severe cases, a small amount of bone around the teeth may be removed as well.
In some patients, the size of their teeth isn’t always the issue. Sometimes a patient can have an uneven gum line that gives the appearance of a gummy uneven smile. The can also be corrected with crown lengthening.
Another important reason to perform crown lengthening is if a tooth has suffered a fracture that is below the gum line. In order to place a stronger filling or perform other types of repairs, crown lengthening will allow more exposure of the fractured area.
How Much Does Crown Lengthening Cost?
Crown Lengthening can run anywhere from $1,000.00 to $4,000.00 depending on the number of teeth and extent of the procedure required to achieve the end results you are seeking.If you’d like to have crown lengthening purely as a cosmetic procedure, most likely it will not be covered under any dental benefits plan.
However, if there is an oral health reason for performing crown lengthening, such as a fracture, some or all of the cost may be covered.Check with your dental benefits provider for your entitlement.
Risks of Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is generally considered to be a safe procedure with no further risk than any other type of dental surgery. The biggest risks involve things like reactions to anesthetics, excess bleeding, and infection.
Benefits of Crown Lengthening
While crown lengthening can be expensive, the results are permanent and do not require any upkeep or maintenance like other cosmetic procedures. As well, it can actually benefit your oral health because when you brush and floss, you will be removing more of the plaque that builds up than you would have been able to get at under the gum line.
How is Crown Lengthening Performed?
In most standard procedures, crown lengthening can be performed in a single appointment. On the day of your appointment, the following will occur:
1. Your teeth will be cleaned to remove excess plaque and tartar.
2. X-rays may be taken depending on the extent of the surgery required to achieve your desire results. This will help us to see if there will be any need to remove bone tissue.
3. Local anesthetic will be administered.
4. If you have existing crowns on the teeth that will be affected, they will be temporarily removed and replaced at the conclusion of the procedure.
5. A series of small cuts will be made in the soft tissue to separate the gums from the teeth.
6. The gums will be trimmed and reshaped into the new position using a series of incisions.
7. If bone tissue needs to be removed, it will be done so at this stage of the procedure.
8. Once the teeth are sufficiently exposed, tiny stitches will be placed to ensure the gum tissue stays in position.
9. Your teeth and gums will be cleaned with sterile water, then special bandages will be placed to help prevent infection.At the conclusion of the procedure, you will see an immediate difference in how your teeth look.
Recovery
Recovery time will depend on how much surgery was performed, however you should expect to have dressings and stitches for around two weeks. During this period, you may require the use of mild pain medication, and you will most likely be prescribed a special antibacterial mouth rinse to help prevent the re-colonization of bacteria.
There may be some swelling to the area over following few days, but this will go down in time. The use of an ice pack is acceptable if the swelling is particularly bothersome.You may also experience some tooth sensitivity initially. This is due to the newly exposed areas of your teeth adjusting to exposure. The sensitivity can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to go away.
Post-operative Instructions
As noted, special dressings may be applied following the procedure. These dressings will harden onto the treated area and will be left in for one to two weeks to protect your gums. You should try your best to follow your regular dental hygiene routine. Just take care to be very gentle around the treated area.Expect to see a little bit of light bleeding over the next few days. If the bleeding becomes bright red and profuse, please call us right away. Otherwise, slight pinkish saliva is normal.
During your recovery, at least for the first two weeks, you should try to eat a soft mild diet and avoid any food or drinks that are very hot or very cold, and avoid biting into food with your front teeth.
Summary
Your gums will be fully healed within about two to three months, revealing your beautiful new smile!You will have a series of follow-up visits to at Enhanced Dental Centre to ensure that your gums are healing properly and that no infection is present. During these follow-ups, we will be able to tell if any minor adjustments need to be made to the gum line.
The post Dental Crown Lengthening Procedures appeared first on Enhance Dental Centre.