Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a procedure that may be carried out to:

  • Correct a “gummy smile”, where the teeth are covered with excess gum tissue;
  • Produce a more even and symmetrical appearance of the gum line;
  • Lengthen a tooth so that there is enough tooth structure for a crown or bridge to be placed; or
  • Lengthen a tooth that has a fracture or decay below the gum line, so that the tooth can be successfully restored by your dentist.

Crown lengthening involves reshaping or recontouring the gum tissue and bone around a tooth. It can be performed on a single tooth or may involve several teeth. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic in the dental chair. The gum is trimmed to the ideal shape. It may also be necessary to fold the gum back to allow a small amount of bone to be removed around the tooth.

At the end of the procedure the gum tissue is repositioned back in place and sutures (‘stitches’) are used to help with gum healing and to secure the new gum position. The teeth will look noticeably longer immediately after surgery. Your Periodontist will see you at two weeks after the surgery to remove the sutures and evaluate your healing.

Significant healing of the gum takes place within a couple of weeks following your procedure. However, the underlying tissues may take up to six months to fully mature. Your Periodontist will recommend how long you should wait before having any restorative work (i.e fillings, crowns and bridges) carried out. This may be up to six months if you have quite thin, delicate gums or in areas that are very visible when you smile.

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