How long does crown lengthening take?

Thanks to modern dentistry there are dental solutions available to treat almost any oral health concern. You may have a gummy smile, or oversized gums that you have always wanted to change. If your dentist has recently recommended the savage crown lengthening procedure as a solution to your oral health issues, you may have questions about the procedure. What is crown lengthening? How does it work? And how long does the procedure take? Below is more information about the crown lengthening procedure and how long you can expect the preparation, procedure, and recovery to take.

What is crown lengthening?

The crown lengthening procedure is a minor periodontal surgery, where an oral surgeon surgically removes excess gum tissue to expose more of the teeth underneath. Crown lengthening is recommended as a fix for:

  • Tooth restoration: If a crown is needed on a broken or decayed tooth, there may not be enough tooth to restore it. The procedure makes more of the natural tooth available to attach a new crown.
  • Aesthetic enhancements: For individuals who have teeth that appear short or gums that appear oversized, removing a small amount of gum from along the gumline can dramatically improve the appearance of your smile. This procedure will involve trimming a small amount of tissue from several teeth to reshape the gumline.

How long does crown lengthening take?

Unlike some other popular dental treatments, crown lengthening is not a quick one visit appointment. In total, the entire process usually takes a few months from initial planning to full recovery. The process can be broken down into the following steps:

  • Preparation: You'll need to visit the dentist before the procedure to review your X-rays, discuss the treatment plan, and schedule the surgery with the periodontist. During this visit it is important to ask any questions you may have about the process.
  • Procedure: The surgery duration will depend on the number of teeth involved. The more tissue that needs to be removed, and the more teeth involved, the longer the procedure will take.
  • Recovery: It will take approximately 7-10 days before the stitches will be ready to remove. Next, the gums will need time to heal, which takes about 3 months.
  • Follow-up treatment: It is important that you wait until the gums are healed before any additional work can be done. After a few months the tooth can be prepped for the permanent crown.

Post Procedure Recovery

Immediately after the procedure it is normal to experience some swelling for a few days. Your dentist or surgeon may recommend that you try using ice packs to help the swelling go down. Additionally, you may be prescribed a pain medication to reduce any pain. For the first week, sticking to a diet of soft foods will help with pain and discomfort. Approximately a week after the procedure you will have a follow-up visit to get your stitches removed. Again, after another 4-6 weeks, your dentist will likely want to schedule another visit to make sure everything in your mouth looks okay.

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