Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a common procedure done when not enough of the tooth is exposed for a filling or crown.

What to expect
 

A consultation with a periodontist to review your medical history and X-rays will be scheduled. A tooth cleaning may also be scheduled before the surgery to prepare your teeth. Your dentist might place a temporary crown to protect your teeth and see how much tissue will need to be removed.

During the procedure

The periodontist will gently push your gums away to see the roots and bone. Removing a small amount of gum tissue can be enough to place a crown or filling. In other cases, some bone from around the roots will also need to be removed. Once enough tooth is exposed, the gums will be stitched together.

After the procedure

Slight swelling should be expected. You may receive a prescribed pain reliever and an antibacterial mouth rinse. A follow up visit will be scheduled a week or two after the surgery to remove the stitches. Three months after the surgery your gums will be fully healed and the crown can then be placed.