Why Crown Lengthening?
Cavities or broken teeth that need a crown
Lets start with the first reason. Sometimes a tooth becomes broken or has large cavities very close to the gum line or even below the bone that surrounds the tooth. In this case, it can be very difficult for your dentist to put a crown on the tooth because there is very little left to work with. If the dentist thinks the tooth can still be saved, then he or she may refer you to Dr. Lai for a consult and exam to get a procedure called crown lengthening. Crown lengthening is the removal of some gum tissue and/or bone in order to expose more of the tooth. This gives your dentist more surface of the tooth to work with so a crown has a better chance of staying on the tooth.
The appearance of the tooth/teeth looks small or short
In another scenario you may feel you have short looking teeth. This could be because there is too much gum tissue or even bone covering the teeth. Some people say they have a “gummy smile” because of this. In this case it’s the extra gum tissue that needs to be removed in a procedure called a gingivectomy to give the teeth a more natural dimension and reveal a more beautiful smile. There may be other reasons a person has what appears to be a gummy smile. Dr. Lai will discuss with you if you are a good candidate for crown lengthening or if other treatment is recommended.
After
During the consult Dr. Lai will perform an evaluation of your gums, bone, and the anatomy of the tooth in question. In most cases a crown lengthening is the appropriate next step. In a few case the removal of gum and bone would be too much and leave the tooth, or neighboring teeth, weaker. If that is the case Dr. Lai will discuss your other choices for treatment.
The procedure itself takes about an hour or an hour and a half. It’s important to get a consult sooner than later so that Dr. Lai can provide you with the most choices and the best outcomes for your health and smile. Call one of our locations to schedule a consult with Dr. Lai.