Crown lengthening is generally performed to improve the health of the gum tissue or to prepare the tooth for restorative or cosmetic procedures. In addition, crown lengthening procedures can also be used to correct a “gummy” smile, where teeth are covered with excess gum tissue.  Crown lengthening exposes more of the natural tooth by reshaping or recontouring bone and gum tissue.  This treatment can be performed on a single tooth, many teeth, or the entire gum line, exposing an aesthetically pleasing smile. 

Reasons for Crown Lengthening

A crown lengthening may be necessary if there isn’t enough tooth structure above the gum line to attach a crown to. Teeth that are broken or affected by tooth decay may prohibit a crown from firmly attaching. Crown lengthening reduces gum tissue and shaves down bone when necessary so more of the tooth is above the gum’s surface.

Here are some of the most common reasons for crown lengthening:

• Dental crowns – Where teeth have been broken beneath the gum line, crown lengthening can be used to prepare the area for a new restoration to correct the damaged teeth.
• Cosmetic uses – Extra gum tissue can make teeth look unnaturally short and can also increase susceptibility to periodontal infections.  Removing excess gum tissue can restore a balanced, healthy look and improve the aesthetic appearance of the smile. 

What Does Crown Lengthening Involve?

Crown lengthening is normally performed under local anesthetic.  The amount of time this procedure takes will largely depend on how many teeth are involved and whether a small amount of bone needs to be removed along with the soft tissue.  Any existing dental crowns will be removed prior to the procedure and replaced immediately afterwards. 

In some cases, the removal of a small amount of tissue will provide enough tooth exposure to place a crown.  In other cases, your dentist will also need to remove a small amount of bone from around the teeth.  The bone is usually removed using a combination of special hand instruments, and rotary instruments.  The rotary instruments roughly resemble the drill that is used in cavity treatment.

Your dentist will secure the surgical site using sutures.  Prescriptions may be provided for pain medication, and a chlorhexidine (antimicrobial) mouth rinse may be given to help reduce any bacteria attempting to re-colonize.  The surgical site will be completely healed in approximately two to three months.

If you have any questions about crown lengthening, please contact our office.