Surgical & Laser

What is Crown Lengthening?

The part of the tooth that is seen above the gum is called the clinical crown. When not enough of the clinical crown is showing, the gum must be moved up the root to expose more tooth. This is called crown lenghtening.

There are two situations in which crown lengthening is commonly performed:

1 - To improve appearance.
2 - To allow a dentist better access to decay.

1 - Crown Lengthinging to Improve Appearance of Irregular Gum Levels

Irregular gum levels detract from an attractive smile. Even with new crowns, the results can never be satisfactory unless the gum has a natural contour. This may be as simple as changing a single tooth, or may involve all the upper front teeth.

Below is an example of how the procedure works to enhance the esthetics of a smile.

Short lateral tooth, with low gum			Gum made level with adjacent teeth so normal crown could be placed.
Irregular gum levels with short, chipped teeth			Following gum recontouring and crowns

2 - Crown Lengthening to Allow a Dentist Better Access to Decay

A second common use of crown lengthening is to access decay. If the dentist is unable to reach decay that is deep under the gum, the tooth will be lost. As a rule, simply trimming back the gum is not sufficient, for the bone would be exposed. Rather, the periodontist must reflect a flap (See Flap Surgery), trim back the bone to allow for access to the decay, and then suture the gum back at the lower level. Sufficient bone must be removed to allow room below the decay for the gum to reattach to the tooth.

Decay far under gum	Flap reflected to access decay
Bone trimmed for access to decay and to allow room for gum to reattach	Gum replaced with decay visible for dentist to restore with filling or crown

What to Expect After Crown Lengthening Surgery

Most crown lengthening procedures are very straightforward, and there is little or no post-operative discomfort. Sutures and dressing are removed after about 2 weeks, and in many cases a 5-minute "touch-up" surgery is done after 4-6 weeks to establish ideal tissue form. This secondary procedure requires no sutures or dressing, and has no post-operative discomfort.

If a crown is to be placed in a cosmetic area, the restorative dentist should wait 6-8 weeks following crown lengthening before taking final impressions. This ensures that the gum, which shrinks slightly as it re-attaches to the tooth during healing, is in its final position. If the margin of the crown is placed at the gum level before final healing, and additional shrinkage occurs, the results may be unsightly. A temporary crown can be placed two weeks after surgery if the patient desires to cover the exposed root during this healing period.