Crown lengthening is an outpatient procedure that uses special tools to recontour your gum tissue, bone, and enamel. If you have a damaged or abnormally shaped tooth, crown lengthening can expose more of its surface for a crown.
By placing a crown on top of a damaged or decaying tooth, it’s possible to relieve the pain, prevent further damage, and restore your biting and chewing abilities.
If you have a cracked, decaying, or misshapen tooth that’s painful or interferes with your quality of life, you may be a candidate for crown lengthening. After an oral exam and a series of oral X-rays, Dr. Sayre-Castairs can develop a custom treatment plan that aligns with your needs.
Dr. Sayre-Castairs performs crown lengthening on an outpatient basis. The length of your procedure depends on various factors, including the number of teeth treated and how much hard or soft tissue needs to be removed.
First, Dr. Sayre-Castairs administers a local anesthetic, numbing your mouth. Then, she uses special tools to carefully pull your gums away from your teeth, exposing the roots and bone.
Dr. Sayre-Castairs cleans the surgical site with an antiseptic solution and carefully trims away excess bone, enamel, and gum tissue. After making the necessary adjustments, she reattaches your gums to the base of your teeth and moves you to a recovery room for observation.
Recovering from a crown lengthening procedure usually takes about three months. However, you can resume most activities within a week’s time.
Avoid strenuous exercise for the first two or three days, take your medication as prescribed, and eat only soft foods, such as yogurt or soup. After about a week, you can start eating solid foods again. Take anti-inflammatory medication to relieve any sensitivity and brush and floss more gently than normal.
When your mouth finishes healing, Dr. Sayre-Castairs takes impressions of your tooth and sends them to a dental laboratory that manufactures a custom dental crown.
Crown lengthening is a safe treatment and usually well-tolerated, but like any surgical procedure, there may be risks. To prevent infection, follow Dr. Sayre-Castairs instructions carefully. Attend each follow-up appointment and take your medication as prescribed.
To explore the benefits of crown lengthening, call the Coast Periodontics and Laser Surgery office in San Luis Obispo, California, or book online today.