How Long Does Crown Lengthening Take?
Crown lengthening richmond virginia is a procedure used to expose more tooth structure in order to prepare the tooth to receive a restoration or to correct a gummy smile. A gummy smile is simply when too much gum tissue shows when you smile, giving your teeth the appearance of being too small.
The actual procedure can usually be completed in under an hour, depending on the extent of treatment and the number of teeth being treated. However, the overall timeline of having crown lengthening done is a bit longer. From start to finish, crown lengthening surgery can take up to three months.
To begin, your dentist will let you know that you need crown lengthening and depending on the restoration your tooth is to receive, they may place a temporary restoration to protect the tooth until your permanent restoration can be placed. They will then refer you to a periodontist for an evaluation and treatment.
Your periodontist will examine your x-rays and evaluate the area to be treated. They will also review your medical history and discuss any medications that you may be on to determine if they need to be stopped for a couple of weeks before your surgery.
The actual crown lengthening surgery may take only an hour or so, depending on the extent of treatment and the number of teeth being treated. Treatment for a gummy smile can take over an hour since all of the anterior teeth will be affected. Performing crown lengthening on one tooth in order to prepare it for a crown may only take 20 to 30 minutes.
Once your surgery is done, your healing time may take up to 12 weeks. For the first few days immediately following surgery, some degree of pain and swelling can be expected. You may even notice a little bleeding but profuse bleeding they will not stop should be addressed by your doctor. For the swelling, you can use an ice pack and a pattern an hour 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. your pain can be managed with prescription pain medications which should only be taken as directed and only when necessary.
As far as oral hygiene, it is important that you avoid brushing and flossing the area until your periodontist gives you the all clear. Instead, use a Q-tip to gently clean the area. 7 to 10 days after your surgery, your stitches will be removed! Your surgery site should be fully healed 1 to 2 months after your stitches come out. Your periodontist will monitor your healing to make sure that everything is going smoothly and that you do not develop an infection.