Could you please explain to me what exactly Crown Lengthening involves and the reason for this procedure?
Debi, MO
Dr. Atcha: Often when a tooth fractures below the
gum line or has a very large filling and your dentist has recommended a
crown to restore the tooth to normal function a crown-lengthening
procedure is often required to ensure adequate tooth structure is
present for the retention and the longevity of the crown.
This
procedure involves the removal and re-contouring of the gum and bone
surrounding the tooth. This provides your dentist with sufficient tooth
to work with in order to place the crown so that it will have a better
chance of being retained on the tooth and to allow the gum tissues to
be healthy.
Not all teeth that need crowns requires crown lengthening procedure.
Home
Ask the Dentist
Gum Disease
Gum Disease