Crown Lengthening & Shortening Treatment

Providing a Lifetime of Dentistry that Cares

What is Crown Lengthening & Shortening?

If you’ve ever been self-conscious about having a “gummy smile” (a smile in which teeth are covered by a disproportionate amount of gums) or you have other concerns about your gumline, crown lengthening or shortening may be a great option. These procedures help to adjust the gumlines of patients, allowing their smile to look healthy and natural.

Along with improving the aesthetics of a smile, crown lengthening or shortening can be performed for practical purposes. A dentist may perform this procedure when damage to a tooth is difficult to reach and occurs below the gum line. To address this concern, a dentist may perform a crown lengthening, which exposes more tooth area above the gum line. The added space means your dentist will be better able to repair damage that has occurred.

At Brook West Family Dentistry, there is nothing we love more than watching our patients discover a brilliant new smile. If you are scheduled to have this procedure or have any questions concerning it, please contact our staff, who will be happy to answer your questions. Our clinic is proud to provide the comprehensive care you need to improve your dental health and is committed to returning even the most damaged mouths back to full health.

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Procedural Candidates

Several different dental procedures may require your dentist to perform a crown lengthening or shortening, which include the following:

Gummy Smile: If you have a “gummy smile”, your dentist may recommend lengthening or shortening the crown, as well as reshaping the gum tissue.

Cavities: If you have a cavity that has formed below your gum line, it may be in a place that is too difficult for your dentist to access. If this is the case, your dentist may perform a crown lengthening or shortening procedure so they can better access the cavity, clean the decay, and ultimately restore it to health.

Tooth Restoration: Patients who have a tooth or teeth that are cracked or broken may have a crown lengthening or shortening procedure performed, as doing so will help make correcting the damage easier.

Dental Crowns: For patients having a dental crown placed, it is not uncommon for your dentist to suggest a lengthening or shortening of the crown to more effectively install the crown and avoid damaging the gum.

Procedure Expectations

The length of this procedure will vary depending upon the amount of damage that needs to be repaired, how many teeth are in need of repair, and if any bone needs to be removed.

Your dentist will usually provide a local anesthetic to alleviate any pain or anxiety you may be experiencing. After the anesthetic has been administered, your dentist will begin making incisions in the soft tissue. Doing so allows them to separate the gums from the teeth. Once this is complete, they will have access to the underlying bone and roots. Although there may only be damage to one tooth, your dentist will often reshape the surrounding teeth to ensure that the overall reshaping is even.

Once this is completed, your dentist will apply bandages that will help prevent infections from developing.

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Caring for Your Teeth

It is not unusual to experience sensitivity following your crown lengthening or shortening procedure. Slight swelling is also very common. Many patients find that using ice packs for the first 48 hours is effective in addressing the swelling, after which you can begin using moist heat.

In addition to this care, you will also want to stick to a soft food diet following the procedure, and avoid chewing in the area where the procedure took place. It is also important to avoid spicy, acidic, hard, or brittle foods. Instead, stick to foods like pasta, soups, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, etc. It is also important to avoid alcohol until your post-operative appointment is complete, and also to avoid smoking for 7-14 days following your surgery.

Once you have recovered fully from this procedure, you can resume your normal diet and eating habits.

Associated Costs

As is the case with most dental procedures, what and how much of your procedure will be covered will ultimately be determined by your specific insurance plan. Still, many insurance plans cover crown lengthening and shortening procedures, although they may not cover the entire cost of the crown lengthening and shortening. If you are not currently covered by an insurance plan or if you have any questions about payment options, please contact our staff, who will be happy to discuss your options with you.

Care You Can Trust

At Brook West Family Dentistry, we are committed to building positive, long-standing relationships with our patients. The way we achieve this is by using state-of-the-art technologies, compassionate and carefully planned services, high-quality work, and personalized care that always places the needs of the individual client first. If you would like to meet our team, take a tour of our facilities, or discuss your procedure with our knowledgeable staff, please let us know.

Having a crown lengthening or shortening procedure can make a remarkable difference in the lives of those with damaged teeth. Scheduling your appointment for crown lengthening or shortening is your first step towards a confident, healthy smile. To begin your journey towards the perfect smile, please contact us to set up an appointment at (763) 561-2273.

At Brook West Family Dentistry, we are passionate about your smile and committed to providing you with the quality care you need!

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We offer comprehensive care for all your dental needs, from dental cleanings to full cosmetic dentistry. We work to improve your smile.

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