Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening involves removal of gum tissue, and sometimes bone from around the neck of the tooth.

This procedure can be done to uncover a fracture line or root of a tooth under the gum before a filling or crown is placed to ensure an excellent fit.

Sometimes gums can overgrow in individuals who mouth breathe have orthodontic braces or take certain medications (blood pressure tablets, transplant medication, anti-epileptic drugs). Crown lengthening can improve gum heal and aesthetics in these cases.

Procedure
Crown lengthening surgery is carried out under a local anaesthetic. Sutures or surgical packs (putty) are used to keep the tissues in place these need to be removed after 7-10 days after surgery. Until the sutures or packs have been removed, care should be taken to avoid brushing in the surgical area.

Post operative considerations
After surgery, it is important not to clean the surgical area for about 7 days or until the sutures have been removed. Using a mouth wash containing Chlorhexidene (i.e. Cuasept, Savacol, plaquacide, available from chemists), is all that is needed for keeping the area clean during this period. After this initial period of healing, gentle brushing with a soft toothbrush can be resumed.