Sometimes decay or the edge of a dental restoration will extend beyond the gumline and encroach on the gums and bone around a tooth. This situation makes it very difficult, if not impossible, for your dentist to properly restore the tooth without creating a significant problem for the delicate periodontal structures surrounding the tooth. Often a clinical crown lengthening procedure can be performed to help with this problem.
The purpose of this procedure is to expose more tooth structure so that your dentist may restore the tooth with a healthy restoration rather than extracting the tooth. This procedure is usually performed in the office using a local anesthetic to make the area numb. This will usually require a prescription for an analgesic stronger than aspirin for 8 to 24 hours. There will also be special instructions which we will review with you about care of the area following this surgery.
After treatment, the fractured or hidden part of the tooth is uncovered and accessible to your dentist for restoration; and the needed space has been established between the supporting tissues and the position of the final restoration. Six to eight weeks is generally allowed for healing of the area before your dentist will proceed with restoration of the tooth.
Clinical crown lengthening is a relatively new procedure which allows teeth to be retained which previously were destined to be extracted.
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