Crown Lengthening

Why would I need crown lengthening?

Crown lengthening is usually performed to improve the health of the gum tissue, prepare the mouth for a procedure, or correct a “gummy smile”.

An aesthetic crown lengthening is performed to treat a “gummy smile.” A “gummy smile” is used to describe an instance where teeth are covered with excess gum tissue resulting in abnormally short teeth and a less esthetically-pleasing smile. The gum tissue may appear too bulky, or it might look like the gums come down over your teeth too far. In most cases, a “gummy smile” is the result of excess gum tissue and bone covering teeth that are a normal length and shape.

A restorative crown lengthening is often required when your tooth needs a new crown or other restoration. The edge of that restoration is deep below the gum tissue and not immediately accessible. It is also usually too close to the bone or below the bone.

The procedure involves reshaping or recontouring the gum tissue and bone around the tooth in question to create a new gum-to–tooth relationship. Crown lengthening can be performed on a single tooth, many teeth, or the entire gum line. Crown lengthening allows us to reach the edge of the restoration, ensuring a proper fit to the tooth. It should also provide enough tooth structure so the new restoration will not come loose in the future. This allows you to clean the edge of the restoration when you brush and floss to prevent decay and gum disease.

About the Crown Lengthening Procedure

Crown lengthening is usually performed under local anesthetic and sedation, and involves a series of small incisions around the tissue to separate the gums from the teeth. Even if only one tooth requires the procedure, it will probably be necessary to adjust the surrounding teeth to enable a more even reshaping. In some cases, extraction of a small amount of bone will be necessary as well.

Once the teeth have sufficient exposure and the procedure is completed, the incisions will be cleaned with sterile water. Sutures and a protective bandage are then placed to help secure the new gum-to-tooth relationship. Your teeth will look noticeably  improved immediately after surgery because the gums and bone have now been properly positioned. You will need to be seen in one or two weeks to remove the sutures and evaluate your healing.