Teeth undergo physiological or pathological processes throughout their lives that alter their structure, shape or relationship with neighboring structures.
In order to achieve satisfactory aesthetic and functional results, the doctor often resorts to small interventions designed to give the teeth either an improved appearance or the possibility of being restored and maintained in the arch without the need for removal.
Coronal elongation is one of the artificial procedures that dentists sometimes resort to, as it is a microsurgical procedure and the main purpose is aesthetic.
Also, some prosthetic work or fillings cannot always be applied without this procedure.
The aim of coronal elongation is to harmonize the gingival contour and increase the visible coronal surface of the tooth. This helps remove excess gum tissue and will automatically lead to a more beautiful smile.
The procedure itself is not very time-consuming and can be done in a single session.
It’s up to the doctor to decide whether only gum tissue will be removed or if bone reshaping is needed.
Ideally, this procedure is performed with a dental laser.
The advantages of using a laser are many and we mention the most important ones:
The pain is minimized or even reduced to zero compared to standard gum cutting procedures
No bleeding. In conventional therapy, by cutting the excess gingiva with a scalpel blade, even if the soft tissue is well anesthetized, there is a considerable amount of blood which makes the whole process difficult. This inconvenience, which can lead to decreased visibility of the operative field and increased working time, is eliminated by the use of the laser.
Because bleeding is considerably reduced, or even disappears, then increased amounts of anesthetic are no longer necessary. A small amount to slightly anesthetize the surrounding soft tissues is enough to make the procedure as comfortable as possible for both the patient and the doctor.
At the end of the coronal elongation procedure by conventional methods the gingiva is sutured to direct the healing to achieve the desired esthetic result. With the use of the laser, there is no need for sutures at the end of the procedure.
Healing times are considerably reduced and the desired look is achieved much faster with laser.
Anyone with very good hygiene can benefit from this procedure, which is indicated in the following situations:
Deep cavities that extend subgingival, when it is necessary to remove gingival tissue to fill them.
If the crowns of the teeth are too short, the procedure can be performed for prosthetic or purely esthetic purposes.
In the case of subsequent coverage with single-tooth dentures, longer teeth have better retention. If the procedure is performed purely for esthetic purposes, the excess gingival removed will give the smile a better, healthier appearance.
Whether it is a necessity to be able to continue dental treatment or a desire to improve appearance, coronal elongation is a simple procedure with broad indications and great results.
