Is Crown Lengthening Painful?

Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure performed by a periodontist Tennessee that exposes more tooth so that the teeth can be restored with prosthetics. A dentist Clarksville TN would likely refer patients to a periodontist rather than doing the procedure him or herself.

If you are having a crown lengthening, you will be put under local anesthesia so that you will not feel any pain during the procedure. Your periodontist will then cut into the gum and expose your tooth root and jaw bone. At this point, the periodontist will decide if he or she simply has to remove some of your gum or has to remove bone in order to make enough tooth structure to hold on to a prosthesis. Once the procedure is complete, your gum will be stitched.

Complete healing from a crown lengthening procedure, which means that the tooth is ready to handle a prosthesis, takes about three months. In the days immediately following the procedure, your periodontist might suggest that you use ice on your mouth to reduce swelling. You might also be prescribed a pain reliever to help you deal with minor pain. Your periodontist might suggest an over-the-counter pain remedy instead. After about a week and a half, the stitches will be removed. Typically, there is no pain associated with their removal.

Post-surgery pain will subside after a week or so; however, some people complain of sensitivity to hot and cold in the weeks following the surgery. Hot and cold sensitivity usually gradually fades on its own; however, some people say that this sensation continues until the prosthesis is put in place. This is because the tooth roots are exposed by the crown lengthening surgery.

Post-surgery, extreme pain is not expected and if you experience this it is likely a sign of a problem like infection. If you experience extreme pain, contact your dentist Clarksville TN or periodontist Tennessee immediately.