To prepare the teeth for healthy and well-proportioned dental restorations or crowns, the procedure known as crown lengthening is occasionally required. Crown lengthening is performed to ensure that the edge of a crown or filling does not extend too deep beneath the gumline where it would not be readily accessible. It is unhealthy for the edge of any restoration to be located too close to the bone level or too far below the gumline.
With crown lengthening, we are able to adjust the height of the gum and bone around a single tooth or multiple teeth to ensure a proper fit and an attractive appearance. The procedure increases the amount of tooth structure that is visible above the gums. This enables the dentist to create a more ideal restoration and it also enables the patient to properly clean all surfaces of the teeth, reducing the risk for cavities or gum disease.
Quite often, crown lengthening is performed to improve the cosmetic relationship between the gums and teeth, rather than in preparation for a dental restoration. For a patient who exhibits a “gummy smile” or a smile in which the teeth appear small in relation to the bulky nature of the gums, the tissue around multiple teeth can be recontoured and gently reshaped. The gumline across multiple teeth can be altered in this way to bring more balance and proportion to the smile.
The number of teeth that will be involved in the crown lengthening procedure will be dictated by the goals of the dentist, periodontist, and the patient. For a dental restoration, this may involve only a single tooth; to improve a gummy smile, this may involve a series of teeth. The procedure can be performed in a specific location within the mouth or in the case of smile makeover the entire smile line can be treated.
Crown lengthening provides many functional and cosmetic benefits. Ask our skilled team of periodontists for more information on the procedure. Contact our office to schedule your professional consultation today.
