Lacking in Terms of Exposed Tooth Structure for Crowns?
Sometimes, tooth decay removes an extensive amount tooth resulting in a small foundation for a new crown. Your dentist may need more tooth exposed to create a predictable, long lasting crown. Dr. Rodney Horvat, and Dr. Scott Cohen at Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, along with your dentist, may recommend crown lengthening if you have a tooth that is decayed, broken below the gum line, or does not have enough structure for a tooth restoration procedure such as a dental crown or a dental bridge. In this procedure, the gums and bone are trimmed down and reshaped to expose more of tooth structure. After the procedure, a few sutures are placed to hold the gum tissue in its new position and the area is covered with a surgical dressing, like a a bandaid, to protect it during the early healing period. We will see you 2 weeks after the visit to remove any sutures and evaluate the healing. At this point, normal brushing and flossing can usually resume and we will give you a soft toothbrush to use in this area. The area will need to heal for 4-6 weeks after the surgery to allow for the gum tissue healing before your dentist can resume treatment in this area.
Gummy Smile Treatment with Periodontal Plastic Surgery
Many people with excess gum tissue around the tooth become self-conscious when smiling and find it difficult to hide that ‘gummy smile’. A crown lengthening procedure can offer both cosmetic and functional benefits. Periodontal plastic surgery procedures such as functional crown lengthening help to create enough space around a tooth with excess gum tissue to accommodate for a dental crown, a dental bridge, or another restorative procedure.
To perform this procedure, local anesthetic is administered around the treatment area and small incisions are made to remove excess gum tissue. At this stage, the gums can be reshaped and molded to a more attractive appearance. Your doctor will place removable sutures around the incision sites and these will stay for up to two weeks. The treated area will be completely healed within six to eight weeks, and will now be healthy enough to accommodate for the final restorative procedure such as a dental crown or dental bridge placement.
Talk to Dr. Horvat, or Dr. Cohen at Periodontics & Implant Dentistry to find out whether you are a good candidate for periodontal plastic surgery. We can discuss gummy smile treatment options, benefits, and costs during your consultation.