“Should a crown go to the gum line?”
I am a 29 year old female. I wonder if a crown should go to the gum line?
8 Answers
Not necessarily
It depends on the type of crown. If a crown is above the gum, it will facilitate cleaning along the margin of the crown.
It depends on the type of material the doctor is using and why the doctor is doing the crown to begin with. In short, yes, sometimes it should go to the gum line.
It all depends on the situation. Porcelain crowns made of certain materials do not necessarily have to go to the gum line. Sometimes we as dentists are more conservative and try to save as much tooth structure as possible. Crown margins can be above, at, or below the gum line. All depends on the situation.
Dr. Alan Bruce Steiner
Dentist | General Practice
Every crown is different. It depends on the tooth and the type of crown and the location in your mouth and the extent of the decay before the tooth is crowned.
Alan B. Steiner, DMD
Alan B. Steiner, DMD
It doesn't have to unless it's an esthetic issue. Teeth in the back, for example, do not have to be covered all the way to the gum line.
Not necessarily. It depends on several factors for the specific tooth. If you have a crown that does not meet your expectations, just ask your dentist to explain the situation. Perhaps a correction would be in order.
Crown length is relative and depends on how conservative the dentist is. Typically dentist want to preserve as much natural tissue as possible so they may opt for a shorter crown. Aesthetically, they look better going to or slightly below the gums. Crowns should always go to the gums if there is a high probability recurrent cavities in the area. We always take our crowns slightly below the gums for aesthetics, cavity prevention, and for strength at our office.
