Crown Lengthening Procedure ⋅ Midtown Manhattan NYC

Dr. Rahmani is a nationally recognized as America’s Top Periodontist, one of the best periodontal specialists in the region. He is an award-winning periodontal specialist and contributor to prominent media outlets. Dr. Rahmani provides a full range of periodontal procedures to treat all the forms of periodontal gum disease.

Our state of the art facility is equipped with the most advanced periodontal equipment available in the USA including latest lasers & high precision microscopes. We work with top dental labs in NYC and use only the highest quality dental components available on the market today.

What Is Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure to remove excess gum tissue and sometimes bone. This exposes more of the natural tooth structure, and treatment can be carried out for several different reasons.

Why Is a Crown Lengthening Necessary?

Crown lengthening procedure may be necessary for a couple of different situations. Some people simply have too much gum tissue covering up their teeth and need to have the levels adjusted to create a nicer smile. For others it will be necessary to remove some of the bone as well as gum tissue, lengthening the tooth so it looks more aesthetically pleasing.

After the crown lengthening surgery, the exposed tooth will need to be restored with a crown. Tooth lengthening can also be a useful procedure if a tooth breaks off right at the gum line, or if the tooth is extensively decayed and there isn’t enough of the natural structure left to fully restore it. In this case, the crown is lengthened through exposing more of the tooth underneath the gum line so it’s possible for the decay to be treated and the tooth restored with a crown.

What Is the Procedure for Crown Lengthening?

Crown lengthening procedure is normally carried out under a local anesthetic, and small amounts of gum tissue can be easily removed through laser treatment. The length of tooth lengthening depends on the amount of gum tissue to be removed, and whether bone removal is required at the same time. Only the tissue surrounding the tooth will be treated with no risk to the neighboring teeth.

At Midtown Manhattan, NYC office we will carefully identify the amount of gum tissue or bone that needs removing, and these tissues will be gradually reshaped. Reshaping gum tissue is usually quite a quick procedure, particularly when using a laser as it immediately seals any small blood vessels so there is no need for sutures and very little discomfort or swelling. Treatment is likely to be a little longer if it’s necessary to remove bone.

How Long Does It Take for a Crown Lengthening to Heal?

Full crown lengthening recovery usually takes 1 to 2 weeks. However, patients can begin eating soft foods and return to work the day after crown lengthening surgery. You will need to go back for a follow-up visit 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure.

During your crown lengthening recovery, we will provide you with full instructions on how to look after the surgery site. Once the anesthesia wears off, you may feel some pain and we will prescribe you pain relievers and a specialized chlorhexidine mouth rinse, depending on the extent of surgery. It’s best to follow a soft diet for the first few days until the area settles down.

Crown Lengthening Treatments Are Straightforward

Most crown lengthening treatments are extremely straightforward and patients typically experience little postoperative pain and discomfort. Once the gum tissue has fully healed, you should be able to see the new shape of your gum tissue. If necessary, it can be touched up slightly to give the perfect shape. If you need new crowns following the tooth lengthening procedure, then it’s necessary to wait a few weeks before the crown can be made.

This is because the gum tissue shrinks slightly during healing, and it’s important that the margin of the crown is placed slightly below the new gum level to give good oral and aesthetic results. If the crown is placed too soon then the gum tissue might shrink back too much and the edge of the crown will be visible. There is no need to worry about how this tooth will look during this time, as we will protect the tooth with a temporary crown until you can have the proper crown made and fitted.