What is dental crown lengthening?
Dental crown lengthening is a periodontal procedure that exposes more of the tooth’s structure by recontouring the gum tissue and underlying bone. Our doctors may recommend crown lengthening when there is not enough tooth structure remaining above the gum line to successfully support a dental restoration or cosmetic procedure.
When would I need dental crown lengthening?
- When a tooth breaks at or below the gum line and is healthy enough to be restored (does not need to be extracted).
- When dental decay extends below the gum line.
- When an overgrowth of gum tissue makes it hard to properly clean your teeth causing greater risk of developing decay and/or gum disease.
- When you have excess gum tissue that makes your teeth appear smaller (sometimes called a gummy smile).
