Crown lengthening: the secret to a beautiful smile from our dentists in Edgware

Crown lengthening: the secret to a beautiful smile from our dentists in Edgware

07 / 02 / 2023

At Manor Lodge, we understand that a healthy and beautiful smile is important to our patients. One of the ways dentists in Edgware help our patients achieve this is through a procedure called crown lengthening. In this blog post, we explain what crown lengthening is, how it is done, and the benefits it can provide.

What is crown lengthening?

Crown lengthening is a dental procedure that involves reshaping the gum tissue to expose more of the tooth; this can be done on one or multiple teeth, depending on the patient’s needs. The goal of the procedure is to make more of the tooth visible, which can improve the appearance of the smile and make it easier to clean the teeth.

Why is crown lengthening necessary?

There are a few reasons why a patient might need crown lengthening. The most common reason is that the patient has a “gummy” smile, where too much gum tissue is showing when the patient smiles; this can make the teeth appear shorter and less attractive. Crown lengthening can correct this by removing some of the excess gum tissue, making the teeth appear longer and more symmetrical.

Another reason why a patient might need crown lengthening is to prepare for a dental restoration, such as a crown or bridge. If the teeth being restored are decayed or broken, and not enough of the tooth is visible above the gum line, it can be difficult to place a restorative. In this case, crown lengthening can remove some of the gum tissue, exposing more of the tooth and making it easier to fix the restorative.

How is crown lengthening done?

Crown lengthening is typically done using local anaesthesia to numb the area; this means you will not feel any discomfort during the procedure. The procedure itself is fairly simple and involves the removal of excess gum tissue using a scalpel or laser. Our dentists in Edgware will carefully reshape the gum tissue, exposing more of the tooth. The amount of tissue removed will depend on the patient’s needs and goals for the procedure.

After the procedure, the patient will need to care for the treated area to ensure proper healing; this typically involves keeping the area clean, using an antiseptic mouthwash, and avoiding hard or crunchy foods for a certain period.

Benefits of crown lengthening

There are many benefits to crown lengthening, both in terms of oral health and aesthetics. The most obvious benefit is the improvement in the appearance of the smile. When the teeth are exposed more, they will appear longer and more symmetrical, which can greatly enhance the overall appearance of the smile.

Crown lengthening can also improve the patient’s oral hygiene. When the tooth is covered by too much gum tissue, it can be difficult to clean properly. Exposing more of the tooth can make it easier to clean the teeth and keep them healthy.

It also allows us to place more suitable dental restorations, such as crowns, and in some cases, prevent tooth extraction.

At Manor Lodge, our dentists in Edgware always strive to help patients achieve their best possible smile, and crown lengthening is just one of the ways we can help you do that.

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