William L. Purifoy, DDS Periodontics & Implant Surgery

Functional crown lengthening

Before		After

Symptom/chief concern: “Puffy, bleeding gums around upper front crowns. Long history of inflammation. Crowns have been replaced, but problem persists.”

Objective Findings: Clinical and radiographic evaluation revealed over contoured, ill fitting crowns resulting in periodontal irritation, bone loss, and progressive tissue overgrowth.

Action: Surgical crown lengthening was accomplished to eliminate inflamed tissues and to establish a healthy relationship between restorative margins and periodontal tissues. I referred the patient to a restorative dentist and worked with him to ensure that the new crowns were functional and esthetically acceptable.

Plan: Patient is on a four-month schedule for supportive care. Results are excellent and the problem has been under full control for nine years.

Scientific Evidence Links Periodontal Disease and Cardiovascular Disease

CHICAGO—Cardiovascular disease, the leading killer of men and women in the United States, is a major public health issue contributing to 2,400 deaths each day. Periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory disease that destroys bone and gum tissues that support the teeth affects nearly 75 percent of Americans and is the major cause of adult tooth loss.