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When a front tooth crown is redone, is changing the shape of the tooth enough?
With front teeth, the overall impression can change not only with the color and shape of the crown, but also with the visible length and width of the teeth and the left and right gum lines.
A woman in her 30s who lives in Canada, right after arriving in Korea,
visited Smile Digital Dental Clinic.
Her front tooth crown, treated about 13 years ago, had come off,
and at first she wanted a quick way to restore the tooth.
After examination, we found it was worth considering the length and width of the front teeth,
and the uneven gum lines, rather than simply remaking the crown that had come off, so we discussed the treatment approach with her.
Table of contents
The previous front tooth crown had come off
She Visited After an Old Front Tooth Crown Came Off
The patient is a woman in her 30s who lives in Canada. After arriving in Korea,
she visited us because her existing front tooth crown had come off.
Because the crown treated about 13 years ago had come off, she first wanted a quick way to restore her front tooth.
After consulting with her, we decided that this time, rather than simply remaking the crown that had come off,
we would also take into account the length and width of the front teeth and the left and right gum lines.
Photo with temporary crowns placed
We Checked the Width-to-Length Ratio of the Front Teeth
After the examination, we made temporary crowns the same day to restore the empty space first,
and checked the current shape of the front teeth and the condition of the gums together.
Before treatment, the visible length and width differed from tooth to tooth.
In particular, some front teeth looked relatively wide compared with their vertical length,
and the gum line of each tooth sat at a different position.
When planning the shape of the front teeth, it is important to look at not only the length and width of each tooth,
but also its relationship with the neighboring teeth, the gum line, and how the teeth look with the face and lips,
and to weighthem together.
For this patient as well, we checked these points and planned gum contouring and the front tooth crown
treatment together.
Gum contouring process
Temporary crowns after gum contouring
We Performed Gum Contouring on the Front Teeth First
We performed gum contouring on the areas that needed it, with the desired tooth shape in mind.
After checking the position of the teeth and the alveolar bone under the gums, this case required adjusting the shape of the bone as well as the gums.
The extent and method of gum contouring are not the same for every patient. Depending on the relationship between the teeth, gums, and alveolar bone, in some cases only the gums are adjusted,
and in others the alveolar bone has to be adjusted as well.
After the gum contouring, we also adjusted the shape of the temporary crowns to match the changed gum line.
At this stage, the temporary crowns were used not only as a stand-in until the final crown was made,
but also to observe how the gums settled and to check
the length and shape of the teeth to be made in the end.
Checking the shape of the temporary crowns
We Checked the Shape of the Front Teeth With Temporary Crowns.
While checking the condition of the gums, we adjusted the length and shape of the temporary crowns together with the patient.
For front tooth restorations, rather than making the final crown right away, checking the expected shape at the temporary stage
lets the patient describe what they want more specifically.
For this patient too, we checked the visible tooth length and the shape of the front teeth with the temporary crowns
before moving on to making the final crown.
The old resin restorations that no longer matched in color
were also redone to match the color of the surrounding teeth.
Photo after treatment
Front Tooth Crown Treatment After Gum Contouring
This is the result after the final crown treatment.
Before treatment, the previous front tooth crown had come off,
and the visible length and gum line differed from tooth to tooth.
In this treatment, we went through the following steps: gum contouring โ checking the gums and tooth shape with temporary crowns โ
making the final front tooth crown were carried out in this order.
In the photo after treatment, you can see how the length and width of the front teeth, the left and right gum lines, and the shape of the tooth edges have changed compared with before treatment.
Why Is Gum Contouring Needed for Front Tooth Crown Treatment?
Not every patient who has a front tooth crown treated needs gum contouring.
However, when the teeth look short or the gum line sits at a different position on each tooth,
gum contouring can be considered after checking the current condition of the gums and alveolar bone.
This patient also first wanted the dislodged front tooth restored quickly,
but after consultation we decided the scope of treatment by considering the shape of the front teeth and the gum line together.
If you are thinking about redoing a front tooth crown, rather than checking only the existing restoration,
it is important to look at the current condition of the teeth, tooth proportions, and gum line together,
and then decide on the treatment method.
*The before-and-after photos in this case are published with the patient's consent.
Treatment methods and results vary from person to person. Crown treatment may require reducing the tooth, and discomfort such as pain, bleeding, and swelling may occur after gum contouring. The method and scope of gum contouring can differ depending on the condition of the teeth, gums, and alveolar bone, so the treatment plan is decided after examination and consultation.
Related cases:
Busan Seomyeon Front Tooth Crown: A 10-Day Re-Treatment for a Patient Living Abroad
Anterior Zirconia Crowns in Seomyeon, Busan: Improving the Shape of the Front Teeth
Front Tooth Crown in Busan Seomyeon: Retreating an Old PFM Crown with a Zirconia Crown
Related information: Same-day crown & one-day restoration guide ยท General dental information is also available on the Korean Dental Association.
