Author name: Erica Chafin

Functional Crown Lengthening – Case #2 STEP 1: Evaluation & Temporary Crown (General Dentist): Your general dentist diagnoses the issue and determines if more of the tooth needs to be exposed. They prepare the tooth, place a temporary crown, and refer you to us, the periodontist, for the crown lengthening procedure. STEP 2: Crown Lengthening Procedure (Periodontist): The procedure is performed at our office. You’ll be comfortably numbed with local anesthesia, so you won’t feel pain during the procedure. We will carefully reshape or remove excess gum tissue and adjust the bone to expose more of the tooth. The gums are then sutured in place for proper healing and your temporary crown is placed back on. STEP 3: Recovery & Healing Phase: It’s normal to experience mild swelling and soreness after the procedure. Over-the-counter pain relievers and a soft-food diet for a few days help you stay comfortable. We will provide you with detailed post-op instructions. The gums need a few weeks to heal and settle into their new position. This helps ensure your final crown fits beautifully and lasts long-term. STEP 4: Final Crown Placement (General Dentist): Once the gums have healed, we’ll give you the all-clear, and you’ll return to your general dentist. They’ll take the final impressions or digital scan and place your permanent crown, completing the restoration.

Functional Crown Lengthening – Case #1 This patient hadn’t been to the dentist in decades and came to us with a broken bridge, missing teeth, severely worn-down teeth, and uneven gums. The missing and worn-down teeth had caused his bite to collapse. At District Dental Surgery, Dr. Lucy Johnson focused on gum health. She performed a combination of crown lengthening to make his shorter teeth more proportionate and a gum graft (CTG) to fill the large collapsed area of gum tissue where his bridge was. At Washington Metro Dental, Dr. Rebecca Salzman, General Dentist, rebuilt the foundation of his smile, restoring his bite and tooth structure with custom crowns and bridges. The result is a healthier bite, improved function, and a smile that looks completely transformed. And we’re not done yet- the next step is dental implants to replace the remaining missing teeth and complete his long-term restoration.