What is crown lengthening?

Crown lengthening is a minor surgical procedure, which reshapes the gum and bone around your tooth, allowing your dentist to place a new restoration and cover the broken or decayed portion.

Why do I need crown lengthening?

Sometimes cavities can extend deep below the gum line and can be impossible to clean out and fill without an additional procedure called crown lengthening. Another reason why someone may require crown lengthening is when a portion of the tooth or filling breaks off deep below the gum line. A crown lengthening procedure reshapes the gum and bone around the affected area so that it can be accessed for treatment.  Crown lengthening surgery results in exposure of the healthy portions of the tooth beyond the deep cavity, so that your dentist can properly remove the infected portion of the tooth and place a new filling or crown (also commonly referred to as a cap).  Without this procedure, the cavity may not be completely removed, allowing it to continue and eventually destroy the entire tooth.  Alternatively, failure to perform crown lengthening can sometimes result in the placement of filling or crowns so deep under the gums that is may become a chronic source of pain, inflammation, and discomfort.

Video: Watch our 3D animation video to learn more about the crown lengthening process.

Crown Lengthening for Cosmetic Dentistry

Some San Diego patients have to much gum tissue around their teeth, giving the appearance of abnormally short teeth or a ‘gummy smile’.  A specific type of crown lengthening procedure called “esthetic crown lengthening” can be performed to remove the extra gum tissue, allowing ones entire natural tooth to show and dramatically improving the overall appearance of one’s smile.  For more information about esthetic crown lengthening, please visit our page on gum recontouring.

Contact San Diego’s Experienced Periodontist

As a highly-trained and skilled periodontist, Dr. Beck-Mayo is highly sought after by patients who are suffering from their oral health. Whether you have been told you have periodontal disease, or you have loose or missing teeth that need to be replaced with dental implants, you can trust Dr. Beck-Mayo and her team to support you every step of the way, and make sure you get the high-quality care you deserve. Call her office today to schedule your first appointment!

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Does it hurt?

In short, no the procedure does not hurt.  The area requiring treatment is thoroughly numbed to ensure that no discomfort is felt during the procedure and it is often completed within 60-90 minutes.  We even offer sedation to further help calm the nerves, if needed.  We take great care to answer all your questions prior to your procedure so that you can rest assured that everything will go smoothly on surgery day.  The night after the procedure one can expect mild discomfort or achiness that is usually gone within 24-36 hours and rarely requires more than simple ibuprofen (AKA advil). San Diego’s Dr. Beck-Mayo and our team are also readily available to assist you should you have any questions or concerns following the surgery.

If you have questions about crown lengthening and are looking for a highly knowledgeable and trustworthy dentist to help, then look no further. As a board-certified periodontist, Dr. Beck-Mayo is a skilled crown lengthening specialists in San Diego.

To schedule a crown lengthening consultation, contact Southern California Periodontics & Implantology in San Diego at (858) 924-0191.