Your dentist offers various procedures to help boost your dental health and safeguard your smile, and it’s natural to have questions if they’re recommending something you haven’t heard of before. For instance, if you made an appointment because you have a damaged or decayed tooth and need a dental crown, you might be surprised if they recommend a crown lengthening treatment first.
Many people experience anxiety around dental work, especially if they’re unsure what’s involved. If you’re unfamiliar with crown lengthening, continue reading to learn more about what it is and why it’s sometimes necessary!
Why Did My Dentist Recommend Crown Lengthening?
Although many people want to adjust the visibility of their teeth for cosmetic reasons, your dentist might also suggest this treatment for more functional purposes, such as to repair teeth effectively. For example, if you’ve sustained an injury or have severely decayed or broken enamel, and the damage extends below your gum line, this procedure exposes enough of what’s usually hidden to allow your dentist to fix it.
It’s also sometimes helpful to create enough surface area to cement a restoration, like a dental crown, to protect already hurt teeth that would otherwise be at an increased vulnerability to additional harm or infection.
How Does Crown Lengthening Work?
This procedure involves oral surgery, so you must consult with your dentist to ensure you’re a good candidate first. They’ll examine your mouth and likely take X-rays or other images and scans to create a comprehensive picture of your dental health. Once they’ve identified the troublesome tooth, they can apply a local anesthetic to prevent nerves in your teeth, gums, or jaw from sending pain signals to your brain. Many providers also offer sedatives, like nitrous oxide (laughing gas), to help you feel relaxed throughout the procedure.
Once you’re comfortable, they will clean your teeth to remove any damaged or decayed materials and sanitize your mouth to reduce the risk of infection. Next, they will create small incisions in the gums around the affected tooth to gently remove a small amount of tissue to reveal more of the enamel hidden beneath.
Then, it can take several weeks to heal sufficiently to proceed with any additional repairs that may be needed. If you require a dental crown, your dentist will likely fit you with a temporary version to prevent potential problems during recovery.
If you have additional questions about your upcoming procedure, the best way to get accurate information is to ask your dentist directly. They’re usually happy to take the time to answer as many inquiries as it takes for you to feel confident moving forward.
Meet the Author
Dr. Lance Anderson has 10+ years of experience helping families build and maintain beautiful, healthy smiles. He earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Louisville and has completed continuing education courses in various topics, including implants, cosmetics, and prosthodontics. Today, he offers a comprehensive menu of services to people of all ages to meet their unique needs at one convenient location. Whether you need basic preventive care or to lengthen your crowns, he has the experience and state-of-the-art technology to provide accurate, comfortable treatments. You can request an appointment on the website or call (307) 548-7654.