Crown lengthening pain, healing, and risks
The crown of the tooth is the surface of the tooth that is visible beyond the gumline. A dental crown is also a type of dental restoration that fits over the surface of a broken, misshapen, or damaged tooth. A crown lengthening procedure rockford illinois is a minor surgical procedure in which a dental specialist, usually a periodontist, removes a small portion of the gum tissue, and sometimes a small amount of bone as well, to increase the amount of exposed tooth surface. This procedure may be done for cosmetic purposes, when patients have gummy smiles or irregular gumlines. It may also be done for therapeutic purposes, when patients have damage on a tooth at or below the gumline, or when not enough healthy tooth is available to support a restoration. The procedure rarely takes more than a few hours to complete and is performed with the patient’s mouth numbed by a local anesthetic
Preceding your surgery, you will meet with a periodontist to review your medical history and assess your dental x-rays. If you need a temporary crown to protect a damaged tooth, the periodontist will provide this at your preliminary examination. Your surgery will then be scheduled to be completed in a future outpatient visit, meaning you will be able to go home shortly after the procedure is completed. The amount of time required for the procedure varies, depending on the number of teeth being treated, the reason for the procedure, and whether or not bone must be removed to properly accommodate the redesigned gum tissue. The procedure is completed with a local anesthetic, though some patients may also receive a sedative. Once the surgical site is numb, the periodontist makes small incisions in the gum tissue and gently pulls the gum tissue away from the teeth, removing a small amount, and then sterilizing the area and replacing the gum tissue and stitching it into place. Once the anesthesia wears off, the gums and teeth will feel sore and tender; your dentist may prescribe pain relievers and a prescription mouth reason to aid with healing
Crown lengthening carries little risk of infection, though any surgical procedure has at least a small amount of risk. Your dental health professionals will provide you with postoperative care instructions to ensure timely and comfortable healing. It is normal to experience some bleeding at your surgical site following the procedure, and you may also experience sensitivity to food and drink at extreme temperatures. These symptoms will diminish as your gum tissue heals. You may feel like the treated tooth is slightly loose after a crown lengthening procedure, especially if bone was removed, and the treated tooth may appear longer than the adjacent teeth Again, these symptoms will diminish It takes about three months for the gums to completely heal following a crown lengthening procedure, though patients can resume normal activities earlier than this It’s important to forego strenuous activity for the first few days following the procedure, as physical exertion may stimulate bleeding at the surgical site as healing begins Your periodontist will give you more specific postoperative instructions Over-the-counter pain medication may be recommended to manage pain, or a prescription may be given You may also receive a prescription for antibiotics Ice, applied to the outside of the face, can reduce swelling and relieve pain, and, a few days after the surgery, you may prefer to switch to a moist heat pack to reduce swelling and pain. Be cautious for the first day or two after the surgery, avoiding hot foods and beverages and refraining from vigorously rinsing out the mouth, which may irritate the surgical site and prolong post-surgical bleeding If you find that bleeding doesn’t subside within 24 hours following your procedure, use moistened gauze or a moistened tea bag to apply pressure to the site in brief increments, and contact your dentist if bleeding continues
Make sure to leave all surgical dressing in place for one to two weeks, depending on your dentist’s recommendation, and try to avoid chewing on the same side of your mouth as any surgical dressing. Exercise caution while brushing near the surgical site, taking care to brush only the biting surfaces and not dislodge the surgical dressing; the rest of the mouth may be cleaned normally. If you were given a stent or denture, follow the dentist's instructions carefully. Avoid alcohol until you have had your follow-up appointment, and avoid smoking until the stitches are removed -- longer if this is possible. Don’t tease the area with a straw, your tongue, or your finger, and try to resist the temptation to manipulate the surrounding lip, as pressure on the lip will also affect the gums. With the proper care, you can expect a healthy recovery from your crown lengthening procedure, and a newfound love for your smile