Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is a procedure usually performed by a periodontist in order to increase the amount of tooth structure that is visible above the gum line. This can be necessary if a tooth is too short, if it has been damaged by decay or a fracture, or if a crown needs to be placed.
Benefits of Crown Lengthening
If your tooth never fully erupted or appears shorter than other teeth, recontouring your gums and underlying bone may help to harmonize the appearance of your teeth.
If your tooth has a deep cavity extending below the gums, your dentist may prescribe crown lengthening in order to gain better access for creating a better fitting crown. Crown lengthening is an option to achieve this in order to save the tooth.
Preparation and planning
The first appointment begins with a thorough medical and dental history. Next, measurements and photos will be taken of your teeth and smile in order to determine the extent of crown lengthening necessary to help you reach your end goal. Scans may also be taken to create models of your teeth, and evaluate the amount of underlying bone and thickness of gum tissue. All of these factors may seem minor, but can have an effect on the overall prognosis and treatment approach.
Surgical Precision
Historically, crown lengthening was done without the use of digitally manufactured surgical guides. While this procedure still requires the expertise and knowledge to achieve a predictable result, digital planning and fabrication allows our procedures to be minimally invasive, with increased precision and decreased patient discomfort.
