Crown Lengthening in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Kenneth Ingber and his dental team are experienced in crown lengthening to improve the overall look and health of your smile. Crown lengthening can be a confusing term to some since it sounds like it involves adding length to the tooth. A more accurate term is crown exposure since gum tissue is cut away to reveal more of the tooth. You may consider crown lengthening for cosmetic reasons if you want to improve a "gummy" smile. It could also be performed if not enough of your crown is visible to support a filling, dental crown, or other restoration. To learn more, schedule a consultation at Ingber Dental in Washington, D.C.

If you are considering crown lengthening, you should be in good general health, especially when it comes to the gums. Problems, like periodontal (gum) disease, may need to be treated before crown lengthening is performed. Most often, crown lengthening is done for cosmetic reasons to correct a "gummy" smile. In these instances, excess gum tissue could be removed to improve the ratio of tooth to gums and provide you a raised, even gumline. In some cases, crown lengthening can also be needed to perform a restoration. We may want to reveal more of the tooth so as to place a crown, bridge, or filling.

To begin the procedure, local anesthesia is applied to the needed areas to minimize your discomfort. You may discuss other sedation methods in your consultation to help keep you calm and comfortable during the process. Once your mouth is prepared, the gum tissue is removed in small slivers to gradually reveal more of the teeth, and the gumline will be shaped for an even look. Once the crown lengthening process is complete, we will close the gums to stop bleeding and clean your mouth.

After your crown lengthening procedure, your mouth could be sore and swollen. Over-the-counter pain relievers and cold compresses can usually be used to lessen your discomfort, but we may prescribe pain medication and/or antibiotics. It may be good to adhere to a liquid or soft food diet for many days as your mouth heals. You should keep your mouth clean at home with mouthwash and soft brushing, but avoid flossing. In some cases, you may need to make a follow-up appointment at Ingber Dental to monitor your healing. We will also continuously check your gums at your annual dental exam.

The cost of a crown lengthening procedure may vary, depending on why the treatment is being performed. Dental insurance providers may cover a portion of the cost in some scenarios, but they may not. In any event, our financial team will contact your provider to determine what your out-of-pocket costs will be before discussing your options for payment. If you do not have dental insurance, our financial team will help estimate your costs in your consultation and give you more information on low-interest financing that could help make your dental treatments more affordable.

Whether you want to improve your smile or oral health, learn more about crown lengthening at Ingber Dental. By removing gum tissue, you will be able to improve the overall look of a "gummy" smile or prepare your teeth for a restoration. Schedule a consultation to decide if you are a candidate for cosmetic or restorative crown lengthening at our office in Washington, D.C.