Crown Lengthening to Repair a Damaged Tooth

Routine restorative crown lengthening is a surgical procedure that judiciously reduces the gum tissue and often the underlying bone surrounding one or more teeth so that an adequate amount of healthy tooth surface is available for the restorative dentist to properly restore a damaged tooth. Damaged teeth are often too short to be covered in a manner that will provide good support and predictable retention of a new crown or other restoration. Failure to prepare the tooth properly will often set up a situation that will either fail prematurely or force a patient to deal with compromised comfort or esthetics. These crown lengthening procedures are designed to remove small amounts of gum tissue and bone around the damaged portions of the tooth without significantly reducing the strength or stability of the teeth in the same region. The site that requires this treatment is usually allowed to heal and the tissue to mature for a time-frame of four to six weeks before your dentist can start the final repair process that will ultimately save your tooth.