Crown Lengthening - Anyone have this done?

[mickeysgal]

My son is done with braces and the teeth are beautifully straight. Problem is he has a gummy smile with smallish looking teeth with excess gum coming down between the teeth. When he had his braces on the periodontist wanted him to consider crown lengthening. I wanted to wait until the braces were off to see what the smile really looked like. The doctor said he would trim away excess gum if there is enough tooth up under the gum to do so of course. Anyone have this done? How is the recovery? Did the gum grow back over time? Did it cause receeding gums in later years? Were you happy with the results?

I don't know anyone that ever had this done.

 

[cabanafrau]

DD14 had bonding done when her braces came off because she had a condition called peg laterals, which meant her fully-grown eyeteeth were simply little slivers. We were referred to a dentist who specializes in cosmetic procedures and she was actually able to have the process started at the initial appointment because he had information directly from the orthodontist about the status of her teeth. It's been at least two years now & they still look fabulous. The procedure was a little time consuming, but didn't bother her at all -- even walking in to a new place w/ a dentist she didn't know.

Not sure if that's exactly like what you're asking about, but I'm sure it's at least similar and hopefully helps you even a little.

 

[KimR]

I had this done and I'm very happy with results. Neither the procedure nor recovery was painful - I just had to eat soft foods for about a week or so until the stitches came out. My gums have not grown back and I've not had any other complications.

 

[DizBelle]

My sister had this done about a billion years ago. Her teeth still look lovely.

 

[Buckalew11]

I had this done because I had my front teeth knocked out with a baseball bat when I was 8.
As you said, they can only do it if there is enough tooth or root or whatever under the gum.
I had stitches across the front of my mouth (I have 6 crowns) for about a week. Surprisingly, there was no pain at all for me.

I remember he used a laser on them to remove the gum. I'm sure there would be a bad smell with that but I had the nitrous mask on during the procedure and could not smell anything. It was not a long procedure either. It sounds way worse than it is! And, it may be bad for the dentist and assistant (icky!) but for the patient, esp. under gas, it was nothing.

It has been three years since I had it done and my teeth recrowned and they look great. I am, however, very careful with my crowns and gums and floss like a wildwoman, lol.

I'm thinking famous people have this done when they have a gummy smile--Katie Couric comes to mind.

I will tell you that when I was having all this done to my front teeth, I was also absolutely scared to death of the dentist. As in, I did not take my DD to her dental appointments (my MIL would take her because I was not going into the office) and to make the call to see about having all this done, I had to take a xanax just to call the office. I have never, ever been so afraid of anything in my life as I was of the dentist.

I still get gas but I am not afraid anymore. I think I went through so much crap while doing this (root canals, gum lengthening, etc.) that I figure, nothing hurt (at all!!), I lived, and all will be OK. However, I still get nitrous.

Good luck to him!

 

[amberpi]

I had this done more than 20 years ago after braces. My teeth are still awesome. It wasn't NEARLY as painful as having your wisdon teeth out. Yeah, it sucked, but it wasn't that bad and completely worth it,

 

[ptcruisermom]

Have worked for a periodontist since 1978 and have seen many crown lengthenings done. From when in the very beginning we used the traditional scalpel, to using a laser now. laser much much better as far as recovery time. Only one that has been repeat and we have repeated it 3 times, was a very heavy mouth breather, that along with the girls hormones just kept making her gum tissue grow back. otherwise we have uncovered many beautiful smiles. Don't be surprised if your dental insurance considers it cosmetic though.

 

[mickeysgal]

Have worked for a periodontist since 1978 and have seen many crown lengthenings done. From when in the very beginning we used the traditional scalpel, to using a laser now. laser much much better as far as recovery time. Only one that has been repeat and we have repeated it 3 times, was a very heavy mouth breather, that along with the girls hormones just kept making her gum tissue grow back. otherwise we have uncovered many beautiful smiles. Don't be surprised if your dental insurance considers it cosmetic though.

I didn't know that heavy mouth breathing can cause excess gum tissue to grow.

I'm prepared for the answer that this is cosmetic. Fortunately, I still have the estimate from the original consultation. It's really not that crazy expensive.

Does everyone get all 4 quadrants done? His original estimate was for all 4 quadrants - all at the same time. Has anyone split it up or is it better to just get it over with and get it all done?

 

[4nana]

Yes, but my case was somewhat diffferent. I recently had a crown lengthening done on a molar, when my crown would not seal correctly. After going to two different periodontist, I was very hesitant for the hour and half $1,500. surgery, which would require stitches, etc. I chose a dentist who specialized in lazer, only took 30 min., worked perfectly w/o any stitches or recovery, for only a third the cost, in which my ins paid. Dentists can perform miracles today and I wish your DS good luck. I am most pleased!

 

[mickeysgal]

Update:

I took DS to the periodontist to be rechecked. The doctor confirmed he did indeed still have a lot of tooth up under the gums - it varied from tooth to tooth. He said that they would not only trim away the excess gums but also go up under the gums and reshape the bone since bone is lumpy and bumpy also. Apparently based on the look on my face, he said it sounded worse than it actually is. He recommended doing the 10 upper teeth that you see when you smile. He said the whole procedure would last an hour.

Has anyone gotten the bone trimmed down also? Once he said he had to trim the bone, it made it seem more invasive than just trimming the gums. It sounds sort of painful, but they reassured me that the wisdom teeth he just had removed earlier this summer was far worse.

We've used this periodontist before - my husband had a couple of teeth removed and later, posts put in. He really likes him.

For those still reading, it is considered cosmetic and insurance won't cover. We're hoping to uncover a huge smile by having this done. Haven't scheduled it yet...looking for a time slot over a long weekend so he has time to recover.

 

[Buckalew11]

I do not know how much my dentist did to my bone but I do know he smoothed it out and it is invasive. When I came home and told DH what all the dentist was going to do, he said there was no way I could "go through that." I guess he had looked on-line. I was tempted to look on-line but did not. Since I was 8 yo I felt I could not *really* smile. For me, it was worth every penny and all the procedures I went through.

Good luck with your decision. Oh, and I had 4 wisdom teeth cut out and I'd dread going though that far more than going through 3 months of the different procedures I went through!

 

[mickeysgal]

I do not know how much my dentist did to my bone but I do know he smoothed it out and it is invasive. When I came home and told DH what all the dentist was going to do, he said there was no way I could "go through that." I guess he had looked on-line. I was tempted to look on-line but did not. Since I was 8 yo I felt I could not *really* smile. For me, it was worth every penny and all the procedures I went through.

Good luck with your decision. Oh, and I had 4 wisdom teeth cut out and I'd dread going though that far more than going through 3 months of the different procedures I went through!

I'm not looking online.

I must of gotten quite a look on my face when he talked about trimming the bone because the dentist started to smile. He must have been amused.

My son smiles and it really doesn't look right, KWIM? We're going to go ahead with it - just figuring out the dollars and timeframe at this point.

Thanks for responding. I appreciate it. It helps to hear from someone that has had it done.

 

[mickeysgal]

Still tossing this procedure around for my son. We have decided to get it done. What we haven't decided is where to get it done.

The surgeon that we have gone to in the past does crown lengthening without laser. From what I've read on this thread, the recovery time is shorter with laser. For those that have had this done, was yours done with laser or without? We know this surgeon - have experienced his work first-hand so I'm already comfortable with him and his work. Problem is, I don't know if I should chuck it all and go stricktly with someone we've never experienced before because they do a laser treatment. Is the cuts more precise than by hand? Is the end result - appearance wise- better?