If you have a dental crown, you’re familiar with the way the crown acts as a “cap” to cover the existing structure of your natural tooth.
While tooth crowns can serve as excellent tools for restorative and cosmetic dentistry, your smile must be strong enough to support them. A dental crown won’t fit well on a tooth that’s damaged, short, or decayed. Thankfully, however, you have options when it comes to attaching your dental crown to a less-than-perfect tooth.
Crown Lengthening in Sartell, MN
Our dentists rely on a treatment known as “crown lengthening” to help patients who need tooth crowns placed but don’t have the existing tooth structure necessary.
What exactly is crown lengthening? During this procedure, your dentist surgically cuts your gums and pulls them away from your teeth. As the treatment’s name suggests, crown lengthening aims to “lengthen” your natural tooth’s crown by increasing the amount of tooth visible above the gum line. Ultimately, after a lengthening treatment, you should have sufficient tooth for your Sartell dentist to successfully place a dental crown that will stay put.
The crown lengthening process looks a little different for every patient. Depending on how much healthy tooth structure you have, your dentist may only need to remove gum tissue from your smile. If the top of your natural tooth crown is unevenly worn, decayed, or severely broken, however, they may also need to remove a tiny amount of bone to stabilize your tooth and make it healthier for the artificial crown.
When to Consider Crown Lengthening
This treatment is not right for everyone or in every situation, but it can help you achieve improved cosmetic and restorative dental outcomes. You may want to consider crown lengthening if 1) you need a dental crown placed on a damaged tooth; 2) you are unhappy with your “gummy” smile or short teeth; and 3) if your Roseville, MN dentist recommends it to improve your oral health.
To learn more about crown lengthening or to schedule a dental visit with Dr. Chong or Dr. Bassas, please call us at (320) 331-3000 for our Sartell location or (651) 505-3000 for our Roseville dental office.
