What is Crown Lengthening?
Dr. Gregory Borrowdale may recommend a crown lengthening procedure when you have decay present below your gum line. Typically, he completes this process before fitting you with a new dental crown. Other dentists often refer patients to him for crown lengthening before they start a restorative dentistry procedure to repair severely decayed or broken teeth. It exposes more of the tooth by adjusting its bone and gum level. This makes it easier to proceed with the restoration.
Some patients request crown lengthening because they are unhappy with the appearance of a gummy smile. This means that their smile shows more gums than teeth. Most of the time, the teeth are an appropriate length but are covered by excess gum tissue. If Dr. Borrowdale recommends crown lengthening, he will refer you to his in-house periodontist. The periodontist reshapes excess bone and gum tissue during this procedure so the smile reflects the teeth more than the gums.
Periodontal Surgery (Pocket Reduction)
Dr. Borrowdale recommends periodontal surgery, also called pocket reduction surgery, when you have advanced periodontal disease. Dr. Borrowdale would then refer you to his in-house periodontist to perform the periodontal surgery. The periodontist removes bacteria, calculus, plaque, and other harmful debris that threaten your oral health. He also reshapes the bone and tissue impacted by periodontal disease. This process allows you to retain your natural teeth for as long as possible.