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- Title
A minimally invasive two-stage crown lengthening procedure applying a tunneling technique.
- Authors
Jung, Ronald E.; Bigler, Prisca; Balmer, Marc; Bienz, Stefan P.; Hjerppe, Jenni
- Abstract
Aim: The purpose of the present retrospective case series was to introduce a minimally invasive two-stage flapless crown lengthening procedure where a gingivectomy was avoided or minimized by reducing the bone height through a tunneling technique. Materials and method: Ten patients (median age 46.6 years, range 26.9 to 71.6 years) were included in the study. The indications for performing a crown lengthening procedure were esthetically short clinical crowns (n = 5), asymmetry of the gingival margin level (n = 2), and both esthetically short clinical crowns and asymmetry of the gingival margin level (n = 3). All the patients presented a thick gingival phenotype, and the mean number of operated teeth per patient was 3.7 (range 2 to 8 teeth). Three patients underwent an additional gingivectomy 6 weeks after the crown lengthening procedure. Results: The esthetic and functional outcome of the treatments fulfilled the patients' and dentist's expectations. Conclusion: A minimally invasive two-stage crown lengthening procedure applying a tunneling technique has the potential to achieve predictable esthetic outcomes without an open-flap approach and an additional gingivectomy. However, prospective clinical studies are needed to validate this technique.
- Subjects
BONE lengthening (Orthopedics); TUNNEL design &; construction; GINGIVA
- Publication
International Journal of Esthetic Dentistry, 2022, Vol 17, Issue 4, p394
- ISSN
2198-591X
- Publication type
Article