Question From Our Member Regarding "Clinical Crown Lengthening"

Questions From Our Members:

J. Ortiz of San Diego, California asks: 

“ My dentist says he needs to do a procedure called clinical crown lengthening.  If the crown is too short, why can't they just make another one that is longer?”

Savon’s Answer:

Basically, Clinical Crown Lengthening has nothing to do with the crown but is actually a periodontal/oral surgery procedure.

Crown lengthening is achieved by recontouring gum tissue, and sometimes bone, to expose more of a tooth‘s surface for a crown.  It‘s a common procedure and often takes less than an hour to complete.

Crown lengthening can be necessary if there isn‘t enough of the tooth in place to hold the crown on its own.  Teeth that are broken or affected by tooth decay may prohibit a crown from firmly attaching.

Crown lengthening reduces gum tissue and shaves down bone when necessary so more of the tooth is above the gum‘s surface.  A properly fitted crown allows for better oral hygiene and comfort.

Original post from our April 2022 Newsletter