Crown lengthening in Sartell, MN is a surgical procedure in which a dentist or oral surgeon reduces the amount of gum and bone tissue to expose more of the tooth structure. Although a common procedure, you may not have heard of crown lengthening until your dentist recommends it. If you need this surgical procedure, you probably have plenty of questions about what to expect.
Why Do I Need a Crown Lengthening?
The most common reason to have a crown lengthening is to create enough tooth structure for a new restoration, such as a dental crown. You might not have enough tooth exposed for several reasons:
- Teeth that are too short
- Teeth suffering from severe tooth decay below the gum line
- Fractured or broken teeth below the gum line
What Is the Crown Lengthening Process?
How long the procedure lasts depends on how much bone your dentist needs to recontour and how many teeth are involved.
You can expect to be at the dental office for about an hour (or longer if multiple teeth are involved). First, your dentist will numb the entire area using local anesthesia. For patients who need help relaxing, sedation dentistry is available. Before starting, your dentist will remove any temporary dental crowns.
During the crown lengthening procedure, your dentist removes and recontours small parts of the underlying bone and gum tissue to expose more of the tooth’s surface. The dentist may use stitches if needed and will rinse and sterilize the area thoroughly. If you had a dental crown on the tooth, your dentist will replace it.
What Is the Recovery Time for Crown Lengthening?
Ibuprofen will help ease any discomfort after this surgical procedure. You’ll want to eat only soft foods for a few days but continue brushing your teeth gently, avoiding the gum area. After your tooth and gum have healed, your dentist will place the permanent dental crown on the tooth.
To schedule an appointment for the crown lengthening surgical procedure in Sartell, MN, contact our dental office today.
