Crown Lengthening

If you feel your smile is “gummy,” or think your teeth are too small, or if a tooth needs to be restored but is fractured below the gumline, crown lengthening may be needed.

Crown lengthening is a procedure performed by periodontists to reshape the gum line and improve the aesthetics of your smile, or to gain more tooth structure above the gum line and facilitate a restoration by exposing more of your tooth.

The procedure involves recontouring excess gum tissue or supporting bone around the teeth to make them look longer. If the gum line is uneven, crown lengthening can also sculpt it to produce a more symmetrical and balanced smile.

Crown lengthening may be done for dental care and medical reasons as well as for cosmetic purposes. If your dentist finds decay or fracture under the gum line, crown lengthening can help expose more of the tooth’s crown in order to support a filling or restoration.