Crown Lengthening

The top portion of your tooth that is normally visible within the mouth is called the “crown”. Crown lengthening is a dental surgery to expose more of the tooth above the gums by reshaping the gum tissue.

Crown lengthening may be recommended for preventative or cosmetic reasons. It is performed to prepare for restoration of teeth that are broken or damaged below the gum-line. It also may be performed to increase the space between the base of a restoration and the gum tissue to prevent that filling, crown or bridge from damaging the tissue. Sometimes crown lengthening is performed for cosmetic reasons, to achieve a more balanced, appealing look if a patient’s smile is ‘gummy’.