Crown lengthening is a treatment that has both functional and aesthetic purposes. We may recommend crown lengthening if your appearance is affected by what is sometimes called a “gummy smile.”

A gummy smile is one in which the teeth appear abnormally short because of excessive gum tissue. The gum tissue may appear too bulky, or it might look like the gums come down over your teeth too far. In most cases, a gummy smile is the result of excessive gum tissue covering teeth that are a normal length and shape.

To correct this problem and give you a smile you can show off with pride, our periodontists may suggest gum tissue reshaping. Often, for predictable long-term results, the underlying bone is reshaped as well. We may also recommend crown lengthening to make a restorative or cosmetic dental treatment possible. If the tooth is broken below or very close to the gum line, or if insufficient tooth structure is left for a restoration, our periodontists may use crown lengthening to expose more of the tooth so a restoration like a crown or bridge can be placed.

To learn more about the uses and benefits of crown lengthening, we welcome you to contact our office today.