Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a surgical dental procedure involving the removal of gum tissue and bone to expose more tooth surface area if you desire longer teeth and a bigger smile.

Crown lengthening is performed when a tooth needs a restoration (such as a crown) but not enough of the tooth protrudes above the gum to support the restoration. This can occur when: a tooth cracks off at the gum line or a crown or filling falls out of a tooth and there is tooth decay underneath.

Crown lengthening can also be used to fix a "gummy smile" - when the patient has a lot of gum tissue around their upper teeth. Excess gum tissue is removed to create a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

What’s involved?

The crown lengthening procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and involves the precise removal of gum tissue and sometimes bone from around the roots of the teeth.

Even if only one tooth needs crown lengthening, neighbouring teeth may also be included so that the gum tissues are evenly reshaped. Post surgery, the teeth will appear elongated because the gums are now shorter then before the surgery.

Contact our helpful staff for further information or to organise a consultation and discuss crown lengthening.