Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure performed by a periodontist to expose a greater amount of tooth structure for several reasons.

• When tooth decay or a fracture line extends below the gum line it may be necessary to remove a certain amount of bone and gum tissue to expose more tooth structure, a procedure for which your dentist will refer you to a periodontist before she or he can place a new filling or crown on that tooth. Reshaping the gum and supporting tissues will give your restorative dentist adequate room to place a final restoration with excellent adaptation to the tooth which will then favor the presence of healthy gums.

• Another indication for crown lengthening is to increase the length of the front teeth when they are too short (gummy smile) or of uneven length.  Cosmetic crown lengthening is performed in these situations to help create an aesthetic, healthy, and symmetrical result.