Periodontal Disease Risks

Periodontal Disease Risks

Several risk factors can increase a patient’s chance of developing periodontal disease. First, poor oral hygiene can contribute to the occurrence of periodontal disease, as well as tobacco use.

Patients who have diabetes or other systemic diseases may be at a higher risk for gum disease, as well as those who are on specific types of medications, such as oral contraceptives, steroids, and cancer therapy drugs.

Patients who are pregnant and experiencing a drastic change in their hormones may also notice an increase in inflammation and bleeding which signals that periodontal disease is forming.

Crown Lengthening Procedure

Crown Lengthening Procedure

When decay occurs below the gumline, it may be necessary to remove a small amount of bone and gum tissue. Your dentist may ask for this procedure before he or she makes a new crown for your tooth.

Crown Lengthening procedures are done for both restorative dentistry and/or to improve the esthetics of your gum line. General practitioners often refer for crown lengthening procedures prior to restoration of broken or severely decayed teeth. Crown lengthening procedure adjusts the gum and bone level to expose more of the tooth so it can be restored.

Sometimes crown lengthening is done to improve a "gummy" smile because the teeth appear short. The teeth may actually be the proper length but excess gum tissue may be covering these teeth. During this procedure, excess gum and bone tissue is reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth.