Crown lengthening is one of the most frequently requested cosmetic dental procedures. Cosmetic dental crown lengthening is performed to trim back the gums, allowing more of the teeth to be revealed. This procedure makes the teeth appear longer and reduced the prominent appearance of the gum line. Still, crown lengthening can also be functional, meaning that its purpose is not for appearance, but for practical reasons.
Functional crown lengthening is used in some circumstances when the tooth is badly decayed, damaged, or worn below the gum line. In these cases, the dentist or periodontist will need to remove some bone and gum tissue to place a dental crown. The procedure creates room for the periodontist to properly restore damaged tooth with a dental crown. Altering gum tissue and jaw bone will allow the dental crown to form a proper seal around tooth structure. This process is crucial for everlasting dental crowns.
The crown lengthening procedure can commonly be performed in one visit, with the help of local anesthetic. After your periodontist administers the anesthetic, a specialized dental instrument will be used to remove the soft tissue or bone in the area that is being restored. Shortly thereafter, sutures will be placed to promote proper healing.
The healing process for the crown lengthening procedure is usually simple and uncomplicated. After a period of about two weeks, the sutures can be removed. After the healing has finished, the dentist can place the final restoration. When the restoration must be placed in an area that is readily apparent, such as one of the front teeth, the dentist may choose to wait an additional six to eight weeks after healing to make sure that the gums have finished adjusting. Placing the restoration too soon may result in the restoration that does not adequately provide coverage for the tooth, resulting in an open margin.
Like all dental procedures, there are some minor risks associated with the crown lengthening procedure. The highest risk is infection. Although the dentist will use precautions to prevent infection during the procedure, an infection may happen if bacteria enters the incision. Smoking before the incision is healed or disregarding post-operative instructions can increase the possibility of an infection developing. As a result, it is essential to follow post-operative instructions precisely and notify your dentist if you notice symptoms of infection. If infection does occur, antibiotics can often eliminate symptoms without further damage or harm to the patient.
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Dr. Markzar, Los Angeles periodontist , can provide you with more information about functional crown lengthening. This Los Angeles dental implants expert offers various procedures to treat gum disease.