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Crown Lengthening in Greenville, SC
Crown lengthening entails a dentist reshaping your gum tissues, and sometimes bone, to uncover more of your tooth surface for either aesthetic reasons, or for your oral health. Here’s what you should know about crown lengthening before your appointment with Dr. Gould and his knowledgeable team at Trail West Family Dentistry.
What is Crown Lengthening?
Crown lengthening can be utilized to enhance the appearance of your smile, adjusting the ratio between gums and teeth. A crown lengthening procedure may also be necessary in conjunction with a dental crown if the affected tooth does not have enough exposed tooth surface to support the crown.
Types of Crown Lengthening Surgery
There are three types of crown lengthening surgery:
- Esthetic Crown Lengthening: This procedure is often performed to help enhance and correct a gummy smile. When your gum tissue is covering too much of your front teeth it often causes the appearance of having small or short teeth. In some cases, a gingivectomy is performed, which involves using a scalpel or a laser to remove gum tissue only. Other times the doctor may also reshape the patient’s bone level along with gum tissue to give the teeth a more natural appearance.
- Functional Crown Lengthening: This procedure is performed often when a tooth is broken below the gumline or if a restoration needs to be placed at a certain depth below the gumline. For gum tissue to adhere to the tooth, research shows it needs at least 2mm of space below the restoration for adequate attachment height. This procedure can help avoid unnecessary tooth extraction.
- Therapeutic crown Lengthening: This procedure is sometimes completed when a patient has suffered from periodontal disease or extensive gum disease. When a patient has areas with deep pockets, a gingivectomy is performed that can reduce the depth of each pocket, also called pocket reduction surgery. After surgery is performed, the shallower pocket depth will allow the patient to physically clean the areas more effectively.
Dr. Gould will recommend which crown lengthening surgery would be best for you depending on your mouth’s condition and unique needs. Your crown lengthening procedure will be performed as an outpatient surgery, which means you go home when it’s complete.
Most patients require a combination of local anesthesia and sometimes a mild sedative to ensure they’re comfortable and pain-free during the procedure. After it’s complete, you may take over-the-counter pain relievers and a special mouthwash to alleviate any discomfort and help your gums heal quickly.
While it can take as long as three months for your gums to fully heal from your crown lengthening procedure, you should be able to resume normal daily activities within 2-3 days after your procedure, depending on how they feel.
Crown Lengthening Cost
Your dental insurance plan will determine the cost of your crown lengthening surgery. For more information about what your dental insurance covers, please contact our Greenville dental office.
Crown Lengthening Surgery in Greenville, SC
No matter what the condition of your mouth may be, Dr. Gould and his friendly team can help you achieve the healthy, beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. If you have a damaged tooth that needs a dental crown or you’re interested in enhancing the appearance of your “gummy” smile, crown lengthening could benefit you. Dr. Gould is well-equipped to guide you through this one-time procedure in a professional, comfortable, safe environment. Contact us today to learn more about crown lengthening and schedule your consultation at Trail West Family Dentistry.
We look forward to giving you a reason to smile bright!