Laying the groundwork for restorations and smiles
Periodontal procedures are available to lay the groundwork for restorative and cosmetic dentistry and to improve the esthetics of your gum line. Your teeth may actually be the proper lengths, but they are covered with too much gum tissue. Crown lengthening is a procedure to correct this condition.
During this procedure, excess gum and bone tissue is re-shaped 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.
Crown lengthening can also 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 by your dentist.
Functional, cosmetic, or both
To save and restore a tooth
When decay or a fracture extends below the gum line, there may not be enough exposed tooth for your dentist to attach a crown or bridge. Crown lengthening exposes sound tooth structure so the restoration has something solid to hold onto, often the difference between saving a tooth and losing it.
To balance a gummy smile
If your teeth look short or your gum line sits unevenly, reshaping the excess tissue reveals the natural teeth underneath. For purely esthetic reshaping, see our cosmetic periodontal surgery options. The two procedures often work hand in hand.