Crown Lengthening

In a procedure known as crown lengthening, your periodontist can extend the height or size of the portion of the tooth that is visible above the gumline. For the stability of your crown, there must be enough tooth structure for it to hold it in place. When your tooth has broken down, or when tooth decay has extended below the gum line, crown lengthening can reduce the gum tissue and bone level in order to gain better access to your tooth.

During the dental crown lengthening procedure, excess gum and bone tissue is reshaped to expose more of the natural tooth. This can be done to one tooth, to even your gum line, or to several teeth to expose a natural, broad smile.

Your dentist or periodontist may also recommend dental crown lengthening to make a restorative or cosmetic dental procedure possible. Perhaps your tooth is decayed, broken below the gum line, or has insufficient tooth structure for a restoration, such as a crown or bridge. Crown lengthening adjusts the gum and bone level to expose more of the tooth so it can be restored.