Surgical Procedures

Crown Lengthening

Typically crown lengthening surgery (or crown exposure) is required when your tooth needs a new crown or other restoration. The area around the tooth and gum tissue is much like that of the space under your fingernail. You can go a little way and not have any problems. However, after a certain point, invasion of this space becomes painful. By the same token, if the edge of a filling or crown is deep below the gum tissue and not accessible, it is usually too close to the bone and your body will react to its presence.

The procedure involves adjusting the levels of the gum tissue and bone around the teeth in question, to create a new gum-to–tooth relationship. This allows us to reach the edge of the restoration, ensuring a proper fit to the tooth. It should also provide enough tooth structure so the new restoration will not come loose in the future. This allows you to clean the edge of the restoration when you brush and floss to prevent decay and gum disease. The procedure takes approximately one hour.

When the procedure is completed, sutures are placed to help secure the new gum-to-tooth relationship. Occasionally, a packing is used to help position the tissue. You will need to be seen in one or two weeks to remove the sutures and evaluate your healing.