Dental Crown Lengthening Miami

Dental Crown Lengthening in Miami, FL

At Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami, dental crown lengthening is frequently performed to increase the accessible amount of a tooth’s surface. During a crown lengthening procedure, Dr. William P. Lamas removes excess gum to expose more of the tooth’s surface. While this procedure offers the patient aesthetic benefits, it also allows Dr. Lamas to access perforations and subgingival caries (i.e., cavities below the gumline) as well as to restore a tooth/teeth prosthetically (place a crown or a bridge).

Dental Crown Lengthening Before & After Photos

Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Crown Lengthening in Miami?

You may be a good candidate for a crown lengthening procedure in Miami if you have:

• a gummy-looking smile;
• teeth that appear short;
• broken teeth; and/or
• decayed teeth.

If you notice that you have any of these characteristics, contact Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami today at 305-440-4114 to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. William Lamas.

During your dental examination, he will determine if you are a good candidate for a dental crown lengthening procedure. If you have recently taken X-rays, please bring them with you to this appointment, otherwise, he may need to take X-rays of your teeth.

If Dr. Lamas determines that you are a good candidate for this procedure and you decide that you would like to go ahead with crown lengthening, a second appointment may be scheduled at this time. During your second appointment, Dr. William P. Lamas will go over the custom-designed surgical plan he has created for you.

Reasons Dr. William Lamas May Recommend Dental Crown Lengthening

If Dr. Lamas determines that there is tooth decay beneath a patient’s gumline, he may need to remove a small portion of the gum tissue and bone to address the decay. In addition, a crown lengthening procedure may be performed before restoring severely decayed or broken teeth, prior to making a new crown for a tooth. The crown lengthening procedure may also be used to address a gummy-looking smile.

Addressing a Gummy-Looking Smile with Dental Crown Lengthening in Miami

When an individual has a gummy-looking smile, although the teeth may be the proper length, they look extremely short due to the overgrown gum tissue that is covering the upper portion of the teeth. During a crown lengthening procedure, Dr. William P. Lamas reshapes the excess bone and gum tissue to expose more of the patient’s natural tooth.

The Importance of Seeking Treatment for Overgrown Gum Tissue

In the majority of dental crown lengthening cases that are deemed medically necessary, this procedure is performed to fix a problem beneath the gumline. Addressing an overgrown gumline is essential because, as time passes, bacteria can build up under the overgrown gum tissue, causing gingivitis, periodontal disease and/or decay.

Preparing for a Dental Crown Lengthening Procedure – Your Pre-Surgical Appointment

Once you have made the decision to have a crown lengthening procedure, you need to prepare for surgery.

Preparing for a dental crown lengthening procedure with Dr. William P. Lamas in Miami:

• Prior to your custom-designed procedure, Dr. Lamas will review your medical history.
• Please remember to bring a list of your known allergies with you as well as current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, etc. If you are allergic to latex, Dr. William Lamas and his staff need to know.
• Patients who smoke, drink alcoholic beverages and/or participate in recreational drug use need to be candid with Dr. Lamas and his staff about these activities because every question is asked to ensure the patient’s safety during the surgical procedure.
• Your dental crown lengthening surgery date will be set.
• You will receive a professional cleaning some time before your crown lengthening procedure at Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami.
• If the tooth Dr. William Lamas is working on needs a crown, he may place a temporary crown on that tooth. While this temporary crown protects the tooth, it also allows Dr. William P. Lamas to see how much bone or soft tissue he needs to remove during your dental crown lengthening procedure in Miami.

Please feel free to ask questions during this appointment. Dr. Lamas believes that good pre-treatment communication can help avoid misunderstandings about why crown lengthening procedures are done and what results patients can expect following surgery.

The Dental Crown Lengthening Procedure, Explained

At Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami, Dr. William Lamas frequently performs crown lengthening procedures. If the patient has temporary crowns or any other prostheses, these will be removed prior to the crown lengthening procedure; however, Dr. Lamas will replace them after completing the procedure.

A dental crown lengthening procedure typically takes less than 60 minutes; however, since each patient receives a custom-designed crown lengthening procedure plan, surgical session times vary. To ensure patients remain comfortable throughout their dental crown lengthening procedure, they receive sedatives and/or local anesthetics.

During the crown lengthening procedure, Dr. William P. Lamas uses specially-designed surgical instruments to carefully cut the gum and gently pull it away from the teeth: This exposes the root of the tooth being treated as well as the surrounding bone. For some patients, Dr. William Lamas only needs to remove a small portion of gum tissue to expose enough tooth to place a filling or crown; however, in some cases he may need to remove portions of the bone surrounding the root of the tooth he is addressing.

Dr. Lamas recontours the underlying bone and the gum tissue surrounding the tooth receiving treatment. If the dental crown lengthening procedure is being performed to place a crown, only the bone and tissue in the immediate area of that particular tooth will be treated: The teeth next to that tooth will not be affected.

Once Dr. William P. Lamas has completed recontouring the gum tissue and bone, he uses sterile salt water to clean the area: He then carefully stitches the gums together. He may place a bandage over the stitches. After the stitches are secure and the bandages are in place, the dental crown lengthening procedure is complete.

What is a Synthetic Dental Crown?

A synthetic dental crown is a prosthesis that looks like a natural tooth. It covers the remaining portion of a natural tooth to protect it. A crown is also used to improve the integrity, strength and appearance of a tooth; however, before crowning a tooth, a dental crown lengthening procedure may be necessary. During this procedure, Dr. William Lamas extends the size or height of the natural tooth that is visible above the patient’s gumline. He does this to ensure there is enough tooth structure to hold the dental crown in place. Dental crown lengthening is used to access a natural tooth when it is broken or has decayed beneath the gumline.

What is a Temporary Dental Crown?

During a dental crown lengthening procedure, Dr. Lamas may place this prosthesis over a damaged tooth to protect it while the permanent dental crown is created. This temporary crown allows the damaged tooth to remain functional and keeps the patient’s smile intact. Furthermore, since Dr. Lamas must grind down part of the tooth before creating the mold that will be used to make the permanent crown, the tooth may be sensitive to variations in temperature (i.e., hot and cold).

After the dental crown lengthening procedure, the temporary crown protects the dentin, reduces discomfort, prevents gum irritation and keeps the gums healthy until the permanent crown is placed. In addition, shifting of the teeth is prevented because the temporary crown fills the space that was created when portions of diseased and/or deteriorating bone, soft tissue and tooth were removed.

What is the Difference Between a Temporary and a Permanent Dental Crown?

A temporary crown is just that, temporary and it can be made in the office; however, a permanent crown is custom-designed for each patient and can only be made in a dental laboratory.

A semi-permanent cement is used to affix a temporary crown because it will be removed in a short period of time; whereas, an extremely strong, permanent cement is used to affix a patient’s custom-designed permanent dental crown.

If you have a temporary crown following your dental crown lengthening procedure, please:

Try to avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the crown is located. If Dr. Lamas is working on the front of your mouth, avoid biting and tearing food, cut it up into bite size pieces instead.

Remember to brush and floss as directed by Dr. Lamas after your dental crown lengthening procedure: Be cautious when flossing in the area around the temporary crown. In the areas where you have dressing, lightly brush the biting surfaces of these teeth.

After you eat, gently rinse your mouth with lukewarm salt water for 30 seconds (4 to 6 times a day). Avoid rinsing vigorously.

What to Expect Directly Following a Dental Crown Lengthening Procedure at Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami

Once your dental crown lengthening procedure is over, Dr. William Lamas may give you prescriptions for a mouth rinse and/or a pain reliever. Otherwise, he may recommend over-the-counter pain medications.

After your dental crown lengthening procedure, you can reduce the swelling by placing ice on your face (over the area that was treated). Remember that ice should never be placed directly on the skin. Use a washcloth between the skin and the ice. You can gently hold the ice on the face for 15 to 20 minutes, then remove it for 20 minutes: This can be repeated for the first 24 to 48 hours.

You will be able to brush your teeth near the stitches; however, you must avoid brushing the gums. You can carefully use a water irrigator or toothpick to remove any food particles that get stuck.

After your dental crown lengthening procedure, if Dr. Lamas placed a temporary crown, refrain from eating foods that may cause it to become loose.

Foods to avoid include:

• Sticky foods – taffy, caramel
• Hard foods – raw vegetables and fruits, ice chips, hard candies, potato chips
• Spicy foods – tacos, salsa
• Acidic foods – oranges, orange juice, lemons, limes, soda
• Chewing gum

You will need to follow a soft diet.

Foods you can eat:

• Soups
• Pastas
• Scrambled eggs
• Macaroni and cheese
• Mashed potatoes
• Macaroni and cheese

A post-op appointment will be made with Dr. Lamas for approximately 10 days after surgery. During this appointment, your stitches will be removed.

In 4 to 6 weeks, you will return to Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami for a follow-up visit.

What to Expect as You Recover from Your Dental Crown Lengthening Procedure in Miami

Bleeding should be expected and may continue for some time following your crown lengthening procedure.

Your tooth/teeth may be sensitive to temperature variations. This happens because the roots of your tooth/teeth have been exposed. This sensitivity usually subsides with time, or once the permanent crown(s) is placed.

Potential risks of a dental crown lengthening procedure:

• The treated tooth/teeth may appear longer than the neighboring teeth.
• Infection is always of concern following any kind of surgical procedure.
• The tooth may feel loose. This happens because of the bone that has been removed.
• Should that tooth be lost, it may be more difficult to replace with a dental implant.

Contact Dr. William P. Lamas at 305-440-4114 if you:

• are bleeding continuously;
• are experiencing pain, even after taking your pain reliever;
• have swollen lymph nodes, which are tender lumps in your neck or under your lower jaw;
• notice a lot of inflammation and/or discharge coming from the area(s) treated during your dental crown lengthening procedure;
• think the area may be infected; and/or
• have lost your bandage altogether or it is loose.

Returning to Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami for the Dental Restoration Procedure

Once an adequate amount of healing has taken place (typically about three months after your dental crown lengthening procedure), Dr. Lamas will be able to prepare your tooth/teeth for the appropriate dental restoration technique (e.g., a filling or a crown) and perform that procedure. At this time, if he is placing a crown, he will make a mold of the tooth and create you a new temporary crown to wear until your customized permanent crown is ready for placement. Waiting to place the crown until the inflammation subsides is vital because if the permanent crown is placed too soon, the edges could show.

A Caring Periodontist and Team of Dental Professionals Offering High-Quality, Innovative Dental Services in Miami

Dr. William P. Lamas and his team of dental professionals are committed to providing patients with the highest quality dental care available in and around Miami. If you have a gummy smile, teeth that appear too short or teeth that are broken, Dr. Lamas may be able to perform a dental crown lengthening procedure at his office in Miami to rectify the problem.

At Lamas Dental Specialists, we know that people avoid going to the dentist for various reasons, one of which is fear; therefore, we offer sedation dentistry. Contact Lamas Dental Specialists at 305-440-4114 to schedule your no-charge initial consultation. Our office is located at 2645 Southwest 37th Avenue, Suite 304 in Miami, Florida.

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