Functional Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure performed when there is inadequate tooth structure to support a new crown, a cosmetic dental procedure, or esthetic restoration.  Perhaps your tooth is decayed, broken below the gum line, or has insufficient tooth structure for a restoration, such as a crown or bridge.  The procedure recontours the gum tissues and surrounding bone to expose an adequate amount of healthy tooth so that it can be restored.  This procedure provides the necessary space between the supporting bone and restoration margin, preventing inflammation due to immune system rejection of foreign materials.  Functional crown lengthening maintains the health of supporting bone and prevents further periodontal inflammation.