A dentist’s first goal is always to save your teeth, which means that dental professionals have developed many dental procedures that help prevent tooth extraction. One such procedure is crown lengthening, which we use at Prairie Hawk Dental in cases where decay has decimated a tooth to a point where there is not enough tooth structure left upon which to fix a crown.
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. What it does is lower 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, Dr. Aaron Goodman will gently and with a state-of-the-art laser 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.
Occasionally, the gums will have to be sutured or stitched, but most of the time with the laser, that is unnecessary.
Our office works hard to always protect your teeth and to provide the best quality of dental care available. To schedule an appointment at our practice in Castle Rock, CO, call 720-515-1801. For more information, please visit www.prairiehawkdental.com.
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