A crown restoration covers or caps a single tooth to
protect it and restore it to its normal shape and size while
strengthening and improving the appearance of the tooth. A bridge is
used to replace one or more missing teeth. The bridge spans the gap
left by the missing tooth and is usually anchored to the two existing
teeth on either side of the gap. When the crown of the tooth is short,
we can expose more of the tooth to provide a secure anchor for either a
crown or a crown and bridge together. This is called crown lengthening,
a procedure that makes crown and bridge options possible for patients
who would not otherwise be “ideal candidates.”
Some of us will, unfortunately, lose a tooth to injury, decay, or gum
disease. When that happens, the chewing forces in your mouth can be
significantly altered, causing unwanted spaces and shifting. This makes
crown and bridge treatment imperative to avoid changing the structure
of your smile and facial balance.
Gums can affect our appearance in other ways. Some individuals may have
a perfectly healthy mouth and attractively shaped teeth, but excessive
gingival (gum) tissue can distort symmetry, making teeth look smaller,
shorter, or more square than they really are. Crown lengthening
restores esthetic balance.
Crown lengthening can improve both appearance and function … and reveal your best smile!
