Clinical Tips

Functional crown lengthening around bleeding crown and veneer restorations

May 12, 2022

Dr. Scott Froum, demonstrates how he recreates space around crown and veneer restorations that have violated the biologic width, resulting in inflammation and bleeding, through functional crown lengthening using a 9.3-micron CO2 laser.

Scott Froum, DDS, Editorial Director

Welcome to our first 10-minute Clinical Quick Tips video, presented by Perio-Implant Advisory. Look for more videos to come in which we will present techniques and product demonstrations on real patients with an emphasis on solving periodontal- and implant-related issues.

Figure 1: Before-and-after photos showing the results of functional crown lengthening using a 9.3-micron CO2 laser to recreate space around crown and veneer restorations that have violated the biologic width, causing inflammation and bleeding in the surrounding gum tissue.

In this video, you will learn how to correct gum inflammation and bleeding around existing crown and veneer restorations with functional crown lengthening (figure 1). I will discuss biologic width and the importance of maintaining this space, the etiology and treatment of inflammation, and the steps involved in the functional crown lengthening procedure.

I will also present a case example of a patient with anterior crown and veneer restorations that have invaded the biologic width, causing the surrounding gum tissue to become inflamed and bleed. You will see how I recreate this space through anterior crown lengthening by reducing the hard and soft tissue with a new 9.3-micron CO₂ laser (Solea from Convergent Dental) in a closed flap technique. The intention of this procedure is to reduce postoperative pain for the patient by avoiding the necessity of large incisions and sutures.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in Perio-Implant Advisory, a chairside resource for dentists and hygienists that focuses on periodontal- and implant-related issues. Read more articles and subscribe to the newsletter.

Scott Froum, DDS, a graduate of the State University of New York, Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine, is a periodontist in private practice at 1110 2nd Avenue, Suite 305, New York City, New York. He is the editorial director of Perio-Implant Advisory and serves on the editorial advisory board of Dental Economics. Dr. Froum, a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, is a volunteer professor in the postgraduate periodontal program at SUNY Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine. Contact him through his website at drscottfroum.com or (212) 751-8530.

About the Author

Scott Froum, DDS | Editorial Director

Scott Froum, DDS, a graduate of the State University of New York, Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine, is a periodontist in private practice at 1110 2nd Avenue, Suite 305, New York City, New York. He is the editorial director of Perio-Implant Advisory and serves on the editorial advisory board of Dental Economics. Dr. Froum, a diplomate of both the American Academy of Periodontology and the American Academy of Osseointegration, is a volunteer professor in the postgraduate periodontal program at SUNY Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine. He is a PhD candidate in the field of functional and integrative nutrition. Contact him through his website at drscottfroum.com or (212) 751-8530.