Crown lengthening can serve two purposes: it can be an important technique in restorative dentistry, but it can also make your gum line more attractive. Both can improve your smile!
In some cases, tooth decay attacks below the gum line. When this happens, your dentist may need to reshape small portions of your jawbone and gum tissue as part of the restorative procedure. The crown lengthening procedure adjusts the gum and bone level so that more of the affected tooth is exposed. The increased exposure of the tooth makes it possible for a broken or severely decayed tooth to be restored with a crown. Naturally, your Surrey dentist will let you know the lengthening procedure is required before arranging for your crown to be made.
In certain circumstances, crown lengthening may be in order even if no tooth decay or other damage exists. Some patients have “gummy” smiles because their teeth seem overly short. In reality, their teeth might be the right length, but excessive gum tissue is covering up a larger than normal portion of their teeth. If you think your smile is too “gummy,” one of the dentists at our Surrey dental clinic can reshape your gums and bone to expose more of your natural teeth.