Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening can be recommended to make a restorative or cosmetic dental procedure possible.
If your tooth is decayed, broken below the gum line, or has insufficient tooth structure for a filling or crown, a Crown Lengthening procedure adjusts the gum, bone level, and exposes more of the tooth so it can be restored. The procedure is painless and usually takes about an hour. Most patients comment that the process simply feels like they were having a filling replaced. The procedure is normally carried out under local anaesthesia but we can also arrange to do it under intravenous sedation. After the operation the gums are not sore but most people feel a mild awareness in the area and possibly some sensitivity to cold. Panadol or Nurofen are generally adequate. A dressing is sometimes used to keep the gum in the new position and sutures are usually placed to help healing. These are removed simply the following week.
If your teeth appear small and your smile seems “gummy”, your teeth may actually be the proper lengths, but hiding under too much gum tissue. A crown lengthening procedure (or gingivectomy) will reshape your excess gum and bone, exposing more of the natural tooth. This can be done to one tooth to even your gum line or to several teeth to bring out your natural smile.