A dentist’s first goal is always to save your teeth, which means that they have developed many dental procedures that help prevent tooth extraction. In cases where cavities have decimated a tooth to a point where there is not enough tooth structure left upon which to fix a crown, our office will perform a crown lengthening.
If a tooth has broken below the gum line or if decay has developed underneath an existing crown or filling, crown lengthening allows a new crown to be placed rather than extracting the tooth.
While called crown lengthening, this common surgical procedure does not actually lengthen the crown. It actually lowers the gum line, and it does this by removing gum tissue, bone or both to expose more of the tooth and provide a foundation for the crown.
The procedure is performed with a local anesthesia to numb the area. When the area is fully numb, the Dr. Eric Meyer will make cuts to pull the gums away from the teeth and expose the roots and surrounding bone. In some cases removing a little of the gum tissue will expose enough of the tooth for placing a crown. However, it is more likely that some bone will also have to be removed from around the roots of the teeth. After removing the necessary amount of tissue and bone, the area will be washed and the gums stitched.
Our office works hard to always protect your teeth and to provide the best quality of dental care available. For more information about Dr. Eric Meyer and his services, visit www.FullertonDental.com. Call 714-879-7943 to schedule an appointment.
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