Surgical Procedures

Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening (or crown exposure) is a procedure used to expose an adequate amount of healthy tooth before the crown is placed.  This procedure may also be required if the tooth has broken below the gumline or too close to the bone.  If the edge of a restoration is too close to either of these tissues, the gum and bone become irritated.  Also, the area is not accessible to cleaning and decay will begin under the restoration.

The procedure involves adjusting the levels of the gum tissue and bone around the tooth 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 and a protective “bandage” are placed to help secure the new gum-to-tooth relationship.  You will need to be seen in one or two weeks to remove the sutures and evaluate your healing.  The restoration or crown may be placed approximately four to six weeks after this procedure.