Crown lengthening has both functional and aesthetic purposes. It is helpful if your appearance is affected by what is sometimes called a “gummy smile,” in which the teeth appear abnormally short because of excessive gum tissue. Crown lengthening can also make a restorative or cosmetic dental treatment possible. If the tooth is broken below or very close to the gumline or if insufficient tooth structure is left for a restoration, crown lengthening can expose more of the tooth so a restoration like a crown or bridge can be placed.
Sometimes Dr. Port recommends crown lengthening to save a tooth that might otherwise be extracted. By reshaping the gum around this broken tooth, he can create enough structure to repair it with a crown, avoiding extraction.
To learn more about the uses and benefits of crown lengthening, contact our office today at 732-928-7770 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Port at Century Dental in Jackson, New Jersey.