Expert treatment Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening reshapes the gum and bone around your teeth to expose more tooth structure. It may be recommended to support dental restorations or improve the appearance of your smile.
What is crown lengthening?
Crown lengthening is a specialized periodontal procedure used to expose more of a tooth above the gumline. This is achieved by carefully reshaping the gum tissue and, in some cases, the underlying bone around one or more teeth.
The procedure may be recommended for functional reasons, such as preparing a tooth for a crown or restoration, or for cosmetic reasons to improve the balance and appearance of a smile. Depending on your needs, crown lengthening can be performed on a single tooth, several teeth, or across the entire smile line.
Restorative crown lengthening
In some cases, a tooth may not have enough visible structure above the gums for a dentist to properly restore the tooth. This can happen when decay extends below the gumline, when a tooth breaks near the gums, or when excess gum tissue limits access to the tooth.
Restorative crown lengthening exposes more healthy tooth structure so your dentist can properly remove decay and place a stable, long-lasting restoration such as a crown or filling. During the procedure, excess gum tissue is carefully adjusted and the surrounding bone may be reshaped to create a healthier and more functional foundation for restorative treatment. This procedure often plays an important role in helping preserve teeth that might otherwise be difficult to restore successfully.
Aesthetic crown lengthening
Some patients naturally have excess gum tissue or shorter-looking teeth, creating what is commonly called a “gummy smile.” Aesthetic crown lengthening can help create a more balanced smile by revealing more of the natural tooth structure.
The procedure involves carefully reshaping the gums, and sometimes the underlying bone, to improve the proportions of the teeth and gumline. The result is often a brighter, more symmetrical, and aesthetically balanced appearance. Aesthetic crown lengthening may be performed on a single tooth, multiple teeth, or the full upper smile line depending on your goals and treatment plan.
