Crown lengthening is a versatile and common procedure that has many effective uses and benefits. Crown lengthening may be recommended to make a restorative or cosmetic dental procedure possible. Perhaps the tooth is deeply decayed, broken below the gum line, or has insufficient structure for a restoration, such as a crown or bridge. Crown lengthening adjusts the gum and bone level to expose more of the tooth so that it can be properly restored without harming the tissues and jawbones and without violating normal gum tissue to bone relationship known as the biological width.
The process of crown lengthening involves exposing more of the tooth’s surface for either cosmetic or oral health concerns. This procedure can be done by itself when a person has excess gum and bone tissue covering part of his teeth or as a preliminary procedure when a tooth that needs to be treated or repaired is obscured or does not protrude enough to support a dental crown or filling. In the latter case, a dental crown or filling is placed after the crown is sufficiently lengthened.
Crown Lengthening: When Is It Necessary?
There are many different reasons why someone may need a crown lengthening procedure. The most common conditions requiring crown lengthening are: teeth that are too short, tooth decay that is below the gum line, or a broken or fractured tooth beneath the gum line.
People think tooth decay affects only the chewing surfaces of the teeth, however, cavities can occur on all vulnerable tooth surfaces, and may be a problem for people at any age. Cavities may develop at or just below the gum line, which are sometimes harder to treat and can’t be filled in the usual way because gum tissue is covering the area that needs to be treated. In such cases, crown lengthening may be necessary. The crown is the visible part of the tooth, so as the name suggests, crown lengthening exposes more of the tooth’s surface, giving the dentist more tooth structure to work with.
It can be also used to treat other dental conditions such as to restore a tooth that is broken near the gum line or place a
crown or bridge on teeth that have too little healthy tooth structure remaining. A prosthetic crown (sometimes called a cap) will not attach properly if there is not enough tooth surface to hold onto. The crown lengthening procedure provides more exposed tooth structure that will provide better retention to the newly fabricated crown and with properly positioned margins without harming the gum tissues. It goes without saying that, a properly fitted crown with margins that are at or very slightly below the gum level, allows for better oral hygiene and comfort. If crown lengthening is not performed in such cases and the dentist places the crown margins below the gums for better retention, this may damage gum tissues with either gum recession or swelling, resulting in gum bleeding, eventual bone loss and permit decay to occur under the crown, leading to more significant dental problems.
Crown lengthening is also popular in cosmetic dentistry. This procedure, sometimes called a “gum lift” can improve aesthetics for people who feel that their teeth are too short with a squared like appearance, or that too much gum tissue shows when they smile. Having an uneven gum line can also make even straight teeth appear irregular. Your teeth may actually have the proper lengths, but they are covered with too much gum tissue. By changing the visible gum-to-tooth ratio and gum contour, crown lengthening can greatly improve a
“gummy smile”, make teeth appear longer and straighter, improve symmetry and eventually improve the smile. Adjusting the gum line for a better smile is not always a purely cosmetic endeavor - when there is too much gum tissue covering the teeth, an individual can be more susceptible to gum inflammations and disease.
During the dental crown lengthening procedure, excess gum and bone tissue is reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth. This can be done to one tooth, to even (balance) your gum line, or to several teeth to expose a natural, broad smile. Cosmetic veneers or crowns may be fabricated to provide the best smile possible.
The crown lengthening procedure is considered irreversible, since it usually involves removing some bone. For this reason, it is important to consider and discuss all current and future treatment options. Whether it is done for functional reasons (to help restore your oral health), or for aesthetic reasons (to improve appearance), crown lengthening can save a tooth or even save your smile. If you are wondering whether it could be right for you, visit our specialized gum therapist at
Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center and have all your concerns well taken care of.
