Crown Lengthening - Spokane WA | Drs. David Engen & Rudolf Hahn

Orthodontics

Brackets & Appliances

Implants

Website by Sesame Design™

Orthodontic crown lengthening has the same biologic basis as traditional crown lengthening, that is getting the margin of the restoration 3mm away from the level of the bone. Whereas surgical crown lengthening works well from a functional and biologic standpoint, if done in the upper front teeth it can sometimes result in an un-esthetic appearance of the gum tissue.

Orthodontic crown lengthening is a method of achieving the biologic crown lengthening required while still maintaining the esthetics that are so important in the front teeth.

How does it work?
Orthodontic crown lengthening takes advantage of dental anatomy, and uses it to your advantage. There are fibers, called supra-crestal fibers. These supra-crestal fibers go from the tooth to the top of the bone. Orthodontic brackets (braces) are put on the tooth to be lengthened as well as one tooth on each side. With the braces we orthodontically erupt the tooth If the supra-crestal fibers are left intact then as the tooth erupts these fibers will "pull" the bone and gum tissue with it. This would not give you any lengthening of the crown. If, however, the supra-crestal fibers are cut as the tooth is erupted the tooth will erupt, the bone will stay put, the crown will be lengthened, and the esthetics will have been preserved. Generally it takes 2-3 weeks of active eruption followed by 3 months of stabilization before you can get your final restoration.

David W. Engen, DDS, MSD Rudolf G. Hahn, DMD, MS
www.DrDWEngen.com

SPOKANE OFFICE
Specializing in Periodontics,
Orthodontics and Implants
6817 N. Cedar Rd. #202 Spokane, WA 99208
Phone: (888) 326-4445 Fax: (509) 326-4612

ODESSA OFFICE
Specializing in Orthodontics
for Children & Adults
20 W First St. Odessa, WA 99159
Phone: (888) 326-4445 Fax: (509) 326-4612

RITZVILLE OFFICE
Specializing in Orthodontics
for Children & Adults
202 W. 10th. Ave. Ritzville, WA 99169
Phone: (888) 326-4445 Fax: (509) 326-4612