When Is Crown Lengthening Necessary?

A lot of our patients are surprised when we recommend crown lengthening. Some of them are not aware of the benefits or necessity of the treatment. While crown lengthening may sound a bit intimidating, it's a simple procedure that can take less than one hour to be completed. Wondering if you are a good candidate for crown lengthening? Or when exactly this treatment is necessary? Let's find out.

Crown Lengthening: What Is It and What to Expect

Crown lengthening is a procedure during which your Dallas cosmetic dentist will trim your gum line to expose more of your teeth's crown. The process involves a series of small incisions as the dentist will try to remove some of the excess gum tissue as well as some bone, if necessary. Depending on the complexity of the issues and how many teeth are involved, the treatment can be done in one session or may require a few visits. You will be given a local anesthetic so you won't feel a thing. You may feel a bit of discomfort after the procedure, but the pain is minimal and can be managed easily with OTC medication.

How to Tell If You Need Crown Lengthening

Your dentist is the one who can determine if you really need crown lengthening. In some situations, such as the case of a gummy smile, the reasons may not necessarily be excessive gum tissue, but a bad bite that can only be fixed through orthodontic treatment. So, it's best to discuss with your dentist and see if you really need crown lengthening.

With that in mind, here are some scenarios where crown lengthening may be necessary:

• Teeth Restoration - If you are getting a dental crown in Dallas and the damage goes too deep, then you may need crown lengthening for the doctor to be able to access the damaged area and clean it properly. The same goes if there is not enough dentin left for the crown to attach to. Then the dentist will expose more of your natural crown so that there is enough surface to support the artificial crown.
• Aesthetic Purposes - Crown lengthening can also be recommended if your teeth are too small and the gum line seems too big by comparison. By exposing more of the teeth's crown, the dentist will elongate the appearance of your teeth and make your smile look more symmetrical. And, if you have excess gum tissue, the dentist can remove and reshape it to make your smile look more even.

Get Radiant Smile With White Dental Spa

If you are looking for a luxury dental spa that offers superior cosmetic dentistry services, we welcome you to White Dental Spa.Get in touch with us now to book your appointment.