Saving Teeth with Functional Crown Lengthening
Dr. Fred Alger performs functional crown lengthening surgery to prepare teeth for restorative work when decay, fractures, or fillings extend underneath the gum line. This procedure provides access to more tooth structure, allowing your dentist to place a long-lasting dental crown or filling.
Teeth that appear too short to support a porcelain or gold crown may also benefit from this treatment. By exposing more of the natural tooth, functional crown lengthening ensures your restoration has the stability and strength it needs for years of healthy function.
What Is Functional Crown Lengthening?
After Surgery – Performed by Dr. Alger
Before surgery
When a tooth fracture or tooth decay extends below the gum tissue, your dentist may not be able to see or treat the full surface of the tooth’s structure. This can make restorations difficult or cause a new crown to loosen or fall off after it is placed.
Through functional crown lengthening, Dr. Alger gently reshapes the gum tissue and underlying bone structure to expose more of the tooth’s surface. This precise adjustment provides your dentist with the necessary access to complete a dental restoration that fits securely and looks natural.
In addition to functional crown lengthening, this technique may also be used for esthetic crown lengthening, which reduces a gummy smile or balances uneven gingival margins for cosmetic reasons.
Why Is Crown Lengthening Needed?
Crown lengthening is often recommended when:
- Decay or a fracture extends below the gum line.
- The tooth’s surface is too short to support a dental crown.
- A restoration repeatedly fails or loosens after placement.
- Excess or overgrown gum tissue covers too much of the tooth.
- The dentist cannot access subgingival caries or the biologic width is invaded.
By exposing adequate tooth structure, this periodontal surgery not only supports a stronger restoration but also improves oral health and prevents future issues with decay or gum inflammation.
How Does the Process Work?
Functional crown lengthening requires coordination between Dr. Alger and your general dentist. The treatment plan is customized based on the tooth’s location, amount of remaining bone tissue, and the desired level of gingival margin exposure.
The typical process includes:
- Consultation and Planning
Dr. Alger meets with both you and your dentist to determine how much additional tooth structure is needed for the restoration. Advanced imaging and periodontal therapy planning help ensure accuracy.
- The Crown Lengthening Procedure
- The procedure generally takes about one hour and is performed under local anesthesia to ensure patient comfort.
- The soft tissues are gently lifted to allow access to the underlying alveolar bone crest.
- Dr. Alger carefully removes a small portion of bone tissue and gum tissue to expose more of the clinical crown.
- The gum line is repositioned to a slightly more apical level, creating proper spacing for the final restoration.
Sutures are placed to secure the new gingival margin and promote healing.
- Recovery and Follow-Up
Most patients experience mild soreness for a few days. Discomfort can be managed with pain management recommendations and a soft foods diet.
- Dr. Alger provides specific instructions for care at home, including gentle brushing, avoiding excessive bleeding, and maintaining good oral hygiene.
- The healing process typically takes 4–6 weeks.
- Your restorative dentist will then evaluate the area to begin the final dental crown or restoration placement.
What Are the Benefits of Crown Lengthening?
Functional crown lengthening provides multiple clinical and restorative benefits:
- Exposes sufficient tooth structure for secure placement of crowns or fillings.
- Allows the dentist to treat decay or fractures beneath the gum line.
- Creates a stronger biologic width to support long-term oral health.
- Reduces gum disease risk by eliminating deep pockets that harbor bacteria.
- Prevents recurrent decay and crown detachment.
- Improves gum contour and overall dental aesthetics.
- Saves teeth that might otherwise require extraction.
When performed with precision, this periodontal surgery ensures that your tooth restoration not only looks natural but also performs reliably for years.
Functional vs. Esthetic Crown Lengthening
Although both procedures involve adjusting gum tissue and bone levels, their purposes differ:
- Functional Crown Lengthening: Done for restorative purposes, providing access to decayed or fractured areas beneath the gums.
- Esthetic Crown Lengthening: Performed for aesthetic purposes, reducing excess gingival tissue or a gummy smile to improve appearance.
In both cases, Dr. Alger uses advanced osseous recontouring techniques to reshape the bone structure and achieve natural-looking results.
What to Expect After Surgery
Recovery from surgical crown lengthening is typically quick and comfortable. Mild swelling or tenderness may occur around the surgical site, which can be relieved with cold compresses and over-the-counter medication.
Dr. Alger provides patients with clear after-care instructions to ensure optimal healing:
- Eat soft foods for several days.
- Avoid vigorous brushing near the surgical site.
- Use a prescribed rinse to reduce bacteria and promote healing.
- Keep up with gentle daily oral hygiene to maintain gum health.
- Attend your scheduled follow-up visits to monitor progress.
Over time, the gums will heal at a more apical level, exposing the portion of the tooth needed for your final restoration.
Why Choose Dr. Fred Alger for Crown Lengthening
As a skilled periodontist, Dr. Alger combines technical precision with a gentle, patient-focused approach. His training in periodontal surgery and osseous reduction ensures predictable, comfortable outcomes.
Working collaboratively with your general dentist, Dr. Alger develops a customized treatment plan that protects your oral health, strengthens the tooth’s foundation, and ensures your dental restoration fits perfectly.
Patients throughout Gahanna and the surrounding communities trust Dr. Alger for functional crown lengthening, esthetic crown lengthening, and comprehensive periodontal therapy to achieve lasting results.