Surgical Procedures

Crown Lengthening

The treatment option called crown lengthening is available to prepare a tooth for restorative dentistry or to cosmetically enhance your smile. Considering crown lengthening in Lighthouse Point? Call us to schedule a consulation, 954.941.2277.

Restorative Dentistry

When decay occurs, or teeth break, below the gum line, it may be necessary to remove a small amount of bone and gum tissue. Your dentist may ask for this procedure before he or she makes a new crown for your tooth. If crown lengthening is required and fillings, crowns or bridgework are completed, serious gum and bone problems result.

If the front teeth are too short or of uneven length, crown lengthening might be indicated. Reshaping the gum and supporting tissues will allow your general dentist adequate room to place a quality final restoration. It is always imperative that crown lengthening is performed prior to your final crowns being cemented

Cosmetic Dentistry

Crown lengthening is used to correct what's commonly referred to as a "gummy smile." A gummy smile is apparent when the gum line appears to be creeping down over the teeth, making them appear short.

To correct a gummy smile, it is necessary to remove excess gum tissue, therefore allowing more of the natural tooth surface to appear.

Case Studies

	Patient reports on referral from general dentist. Patient has been a life long bruxser (grinding the teeth at night while he sleeps). He would like to restore his mouth. To accomplish this, the restorative dentist needs to place crowns on the teeth and open the bite. The patients tooth length (length of the clinical crowns) is too short for the dentist to gain retention with the crowns that are treatment planned.
	Following crown lengthening surgery, the patient now has adequate length of the clinical crowns for the dentist to complete this case.
	The restorative dentist completes the case by delivering the crowns for the mandibular anterior teeth