Crown Lengthening in Fort McCoy
Maybe a back molar broke off near the gumline, and you've been told there isn't enough tooth left to hold a crown. Or perhaps your front teeth look short and stubby because your gums cover more tooth than they should. Both situations have the same practical answer: crown lengthening. For patients in Fort McCoy, this is a procedure we perform regularly, and it's often the step that makes a crown, a bridge, or a more balanced smile possible.
Crown lengthening is a periodontal procedure that reshapes gum tissue — and sometimes a small amount of the bone underneath — to expose more of a tooth's natural structure. The crown of a tooth is the part you see above the gumline. When decay, a fracture, or an old filling extends below that line, there simply isn't enough healthy tooth surface for a new crown to grip. By carefully adjusting the gum and bone, we create the margin a restoration needs to seal properly and stay put.
There are two broad reasons patients come to us for this treatment. The first is functional: a tooth has broken at or under the gumline, or a cavity runs deeper than a filling can reach, and the tooth needs a stable foundation before it can be restored. The second is cosmetic, often called a "gummy smile." When teeth appear short because excess tissue covers them, contouring the gums reveals proportions that were there all along. We handle both, and sometimes a single treatment plan includes a bit of each.
Good candidates usually fall into a few familiar categories. You may have a molar that cracked while eating and left a jagged edge below the gum. You may have had a root canal where the remaining tooth is sound but too short to crown. You may dislike how much gum shows when you smile widely. Or your gum line may be uneven, with one or two teeth sitting noticeably higher or lower than their neighbors.
We evaluate candidacy with an exam and imaging, looking at the health of the gums, the amount of supporting bone, and whether the tooth is worth saving. Active gum disease is addressed first — scaling and root planing or other periodontal care may come before any reshaping, because healthy tissue heals far more predictably. If a tooth turns out to be beyond repair, we'll tell you plainly and discuss alternatives such as extraction with an implant or bridge, all of which we provide in our office.
What the Procedure Involves
Crown lengthening is done with local anesthetic, and we offer nitrous oxide or oral sedation for patients who feel uneasy about dental work. After numbing the area, we remove or reposition a small amount of gum tissue. If the bone sits too close to where the restoration margin needs to be, a conservative amount is recontoured as well. Depending on the case, we may use laser dentistry for soft-tissue work. The site is then shaped and, if needed, sutured.
Here's what Fort McCoy patients can generally expect:
- A consultation and exam before anything is scheduled, so you know the plan and the cost in advance
- Treatment typically completed in a single visit, with the length depending on how many teeth are involved
- Mild soreness and swelling for a few days, usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relief
- Soft foods and gentle brushing around the site while tissue heals
- A follow-up visit to check healing and remove sutures if they aren't self-dissolving
- A healing period before the final crown or veneer is placed, allowing the gum line to settle
Aftercare matters more than most people expect. Keeping the area clean, avoiding hard or crunchy foods near the site, and skipping tobacco during healing all help. Our hygienist will review home care with you, and we'll schedule periodontal maintenance if your gums need ongoing attention.
Care Close to Home for Fort McCoy Patients
Fort McCoy sits in a quieter corner of Marion County, and patients here often make a single trip count. Our on-site dental lab helps with that. Because we fabricate crowns, dentures, and repairs in-house, restorative work that follows crown lengthening can often move faster than it would at a practice sending cases out.
We've cared for Marion County families for over 30 years, and we see all ages. You don't need a referral for periodontal treatment with us — Dr. Hussein Salifu and Dr. Marco Geris handle crown lengthening alongside implants, gum grafting, and contouring. Emergency appointments are available when a tooth breaks unexpectedly.
Insurance, Self-Pay, and Payment Plans
We accept all major PPO insurance plans and file periodontal claims as a general practice. Before treatment, we'll review your coverage and give you a clear estimate of what your plan is likely to pay and what you'd owe.
Self-pay and cash patients are welcome, and flexible payment plans are available to spread the cost over time. If crown lengthening is part of a larger plan — a crown, a full mouth rehabilitation, or cosmetic work — we'll sequence it so the budgeting stays manageable. Call our office to arrange a consultation.