My dentist wants to remove some of my gum tissue to give my crown more tooth area for bonding. Last Tuesday was the fourth time the crown fell off. My dentist returned the crown but said I may need the gum procedure if it falls off again. Is this extreme? Shouldn’t she try to figure out why the crown is falling off? If my gums are in the way of the crown, why didn’t she know that before bonding the crown last October? Also, the tooth’s base is dark, but it wasn’t like that before the new crown. I’m concerned that I will need a new dentist and crown and won’t be able to afford it. – Thanks. Andrej from Brooklyn, NY
Andrej,
Yes, your dentist should have ensured she knew how to bond your crown securely and prevent it from falling off.
What Is Crown Lengthening?
Crown lengthening is a procedure to trim gum tissue and perhaps some of the bone supporting your tooth to expose more tooth structure and retain a dental crown. A dentist may perform crown lengthening for a secure bond and prevent a dental crown from falling off.
However, a dentist may secure a crown on a short tooth without doing crown lengthening by preparing the tooth with a very slight taper and cutting grooves in the sides of the tooth. Still, a dentist must perform crown lengthening if most of a tooth’s structure is missing from wear, trauma, or decay.
Get a Dental Crown Second Opinion
Although your dentist plans to alter your gum tissue and do a new crown, we recommend consulting a cosmetic dentist for a second opinion. Your dentist should willingly refund you and your dental insurance company if applicable. Your crown is not functional, so your dentist should not charge a fee. Still, you can talk to your new dentist’s billing office about getting affordable dental care with payment plans.
Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.