Crown lengthening is a dental procedure that removes and reshapes excess gum tissue, and possibly bone tissue, to reveal more of the tooth’s surface and redesign the gum line. The crown of the tooth is the part that’s visible above the gums; the crown lengthening procedure quite literally lengthens the amount of exposed crown, just like the name says. People have crown lengthening procedures for restorative reasons and for cosmetic ones. If you’re wondering if you need crown lengthening, consider your smile and consult your dentist; let the experts weigh in, and make an informed decision.
You might be considering crown lengthening if:
- You have excess gum tissue that covers a large portion of your teeth, making your teeth appear unusually short and creating a gummy smile
- You have tooth decay below the gum line, which can be difficult to treat without access to more tooth surface
- You have a broken tooth, and there isn’t enough tooth surface available to support a restorative filling or crown
- You have an asymmetrical or uneven gum line that you feel self-conscious about
The most common reason dentists lengthen crowns is to expose sufficient tissue for dental treatments like fillings or crowns. A desire to improve the smile is another common motivator. While there is no scientific measure of a gummy smile, patient feedback indicates that a smile that exposes more than 2 mm of gum tissue may appear disproportionately gummy, and crown lengthening can repair this ratio and make a smile appear more balanced. Gummy smiles could also indicate inflammation in the gums; however, in these cases, gum disease is treated before any surgical modification of the gums can happen.
Crown lengthening surgery is a common, outpatient surgical procedure that shouldn’t take more than an hour or two. In this procedure, a dental professional precisely removes small amounts of gum tissue, possibly also slightly shaping or sculpting the bone. As with any surgery, risks are present, though minimal, and expedient, effective healing depends in large part on how well the patient follows aftercare instructions. This is the case whether crown lengthening is being performed to fix a gummy smile or whether it’s in support of a restoration like a crown or a filling: your adherence to your dentist’s recommendations will make your healing timeline shorter and easier.
Crown lengthening can be an effective way to improve the appearance of the smile, and it can also be used to help dentists restore damaged teeth in different ways. Not everyone is an ideal patient for crown lengthening, however. If your dentist determines that removing gum tissue or bone tissue would destabilize a damaged tooth, for example, crown lengthening isn’t advised. Crown lengthening is also not a good idea for patients with significant bone loss in the jaw, and it may cause increased risks or complications for patients with unmanaged diabetes or active periodontal disease. Each patient is different, of course, so the best way to find out if you need crown lengthening and if you’re a good candidate is to contact your dentist. Whether your ultimate goals are aesthetic, functional, or a combination of the two, your dentist will review your options with you and set you on your way to a healthy, confident smile.
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