CROWN LENGTHENING

This procedure involves removal of gum tissue, bone or both to expose more of a tooth’s structure.

Crown lengthening is done when a tooth needs to be restored, but there is insufficient tooth structure above the gum line to support a filling or crown. This can happen when a tooth breaks off at the gum line, or a crown or filling falls out of a tooth that has extensive decay underneath.

In some cases it is used to correct a condition called gummy smile (when an unusually large amount of gum tissue shows around the upper teeth).