Crown Lengthening - Oakton, VA
At Oakton Dental Implants & Endodontics, we specialize in expertly unveiling a fuller, healthier smile with our crown lengthening procedure. If you're troubled by an excessive "gummy" grin or need to prepare a tooth for a crown or filling, this procedure is your ticket to a bright, beautiful smile. This article will shed light on every important detail you need to know about crown lengthening, and how it can enhance your dental health.
Understanding Crown Lengthening
Imagine a procedure that magically gives you more tooth surface by gently trimming away excess gum tissue. That's what crown lengthening does. It's a common treatment to equip a tooth for a dental crown or filling, but it's also a remedy for smiles that seem too "gummy." The method entails making tiny cuts in the gum tissue to lift flaps, revealing more of the tooth. The extra gum tissue is eliminated, and the gums are then repositioned and sewn back neatly into place.
Why Choose Crown Lengthening?
If you have a tooth that's damaged or decayed below the gum line, making it challenging to place a filling or dental crown, crown lengthening comes to your rescue. It’s also the solution to a “gummy” smile if more of your gum than your tooth is visible when you grin. The procedure helps expose more tooth surface, paving the way for a well-placed dental crown or filling and enhancing your smile aesthetically.
Why Crown Lengthening is Beneficial
The procedure goes beyond just enhancing your smile, it also brings some vital benefits for your dental health, such as:
- Enhanced oral hygiene: When excess gum tissue masks the teeth, cleaning them can be challenging. Crown lengthening uncovers more tooth surface, making it simpler to brush and floss effectively.
- Lower risk of gum disease: By removing extra gum tissue, it trims down the risk of gum disease by getting rid of the crevices that harbor bacteria and could lead to infection.
- Optimal fitting dental restorations: Crown lengthening exposes more tooth surface when a tooth is damaged or decayed below the gum line, enabling a better fit for a dental crown or filling.
Our Crown Lengthening Procedure
At Oakton Dental Implants & Endodontics, our experienced periodontist will start the procedure by numbing the area with a local anesthetic. He will then make small cuts in the gum tissue to lift up flaps and reveal more tooth surface. Surplus gum tissue is carefully removed, and the gums are snugly repositioned and sewn back. The procedure usually lasts between one to two hours, and patients can usually resume their normal routine within a few days.
Post-procedure Care and Recovery
Following the procedure, it's normal to feel slight discomfort and to see some swelling. The periodontist will guide you on how to care for your gums during recovery. This can include using an antiseptic mouth rinse, avoiding hard foods, and taking over-the-counter pain relievers as needed. Following these instructions meticulously will ensure a smooth healing process and help prevent complications.
