Crown Lengthening in Bardonia

Crown lengthening is a procedure to remove gum tissue in order to expose more of the crown of a tooth. It can be done for cosmetic purposes or to prepare a tooth to receive a crown. The process involves numbing the area with local anesthetic and removing gum tissue with a dental laser. The use of a laser makes the process less invasive and more comfortable for the patient.

The crown lengthening procedure provides a variety of benefits: 

• Improve your smile. Too much gum tissue over your teeth can cause your smile to look abnormal or imperfect. Crown lengthening can normalize your smile so that your teeth appear to be the typical length. 

• Make tooth restoration possible. Sometimes a tooth sustains excessive damage and too much of the crown is lost to restore it with a crown. Crown lengthening can make it possible for a crown to be placed over the remaining tooth structure in order to restore the tooth. 

• Reduce the risk of gum disease and decay. Excess gum tissue over the teeth increases your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. It allows more plaque bacteria to build up at or below the gum line, which can lead to infection and cavities. 

The crown lengthening procedure provides a variety of benefits: 

• Improve your smile. Too much gum tissue over your teeth can cause your smile to look abnormal or imperfect. Crown lengthening can normalize your smile so that your teeth appear to be the typical length. 

• Make tooth restoration possible. Sometimes a tooth sustains excessive damage and too much of the crown is lost to restore it with a crown. Crown lengthening can make it possible for a crown to be placed over the remaining tooth structure in order to restore the tooth. 

• Reduce the risk of gum disease and decay. Excess gum tissue over the teeth increases your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. It allows more plaque bacteria to build up at or below the gum line, which can lead to infection and cavities. 

Are you self conscious about your gummy smile? If so, you may be a good candidate for crown lengthening. Crown lengthening can remove excess gum tissue to allow more of your teeth to show, allowing you to feel more confident when you smile

Do you have a tooth with excessive damage that might be saved with a crown restoration? Your dentist may recommend crown lengthening in order to expose enough tooth material to place a crown. A crown could save your tooth and allow the natural roots to stay in place.

Procedures like crown lengthening are better performed by a specialist. Hudson Valley Periodontics and Implantology specializes in conditions of the gums and related procedures, including crown lengthening. We use laser dentistry to make crown lengthening less invasive and more comfortable, even reducing the amount of local anesthesia required. Patients experience faster recovery with the use of lasers for dental procedures.

It may take a few days to a week for the swelling and inflammation to subside after crown lengthening. Complete healing of your gum tissue may take a few months. With the use of a laser your recovery time is much shorter. You won’t need stitches and you’ll experience less bleeding. Your risk of infection is also reduced with laser dentistry.

You will want to eat soft foods for the first few days to a week to avoid irritating or damaging your gums. You can gradually work up to more solid foods, but continue to avoid hard or crunchy foods for the first few months until your gums are completely healed.

After a laser crown lengthening you may not feel any discomfort, but if you do, it should be easily manageable with over the counter pain medication. It can also help to apply ice to your face in the area of the procedure to reduce swelling and inflammation.

When crown lengthening is done for oral health purposes, such as preparation for a crown restoration or to treat gum disease, your insurance may cover the procedure. But when crown lengthening is done for cosmetic purposes it will not be covered.

The gum tissue must be fully healed before the crown can be placed, which can take as long as 3 months. Your dentist can monitor your recovery to determine when you’re ready for a crown.

To learn more about crown lengthening, call 845-623-6666 or request an appointment.