Periodontal procedures are available to lay the groundwork for restorative and cosmetic dentistry and / or to improve the health and esthetics of your smile.

Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure that recontours the gum tissue and often the underlying bone surrounding one or more teeth so that an adequate amount of healthy tooth is exposed.

Crown lengthening is often used as part of a treatment plan for a tooth that is to be fitted with a crown.

This procedure provides the necessary space between the supporting bone and crown, preventing the new crown from damaging gum tissues and bone.

Your dentist or Dr. Crump may also recommend crown lengthening in order to make a restorative procedure possible. If a tooth is badly worn, decayed or fractured below the gum line, crown lengthening adjusts the gum and bone levels to gain access tom ore of the tooth so it can be restored.

What are the benefits of this procedure?

Functional crown lengthening is an important part of an integral effort to optimize your health, appearance, comfort and function. A beautiful new smile and improved periodontal health are your keys to smiling, eating and speaking with comfort and confidence.

Common Questions

Functional crown lengthening is a procedure that adjusts the gum line to reveal more tooth structure. This procedure produces a larger crown by increasing visible surface area above the gums. Functional crown lengthening is done by opening the gingiva to expose the bone. Bone is then trimmed down to reveal more of the tooth and lower the gum line. Once the bone is adjusted, the gingiva is reattached to the newly-created gum line.

Adjusting the levels of where the tooth is exposed above the jaw and gums is beneficial for enhancing the aesthetics of a smile, improving oral function, or placing a restoration on a severely damaged tooth. Many times, the placement of a dental crown follows a crown lengthening procedure.

A dental crown is an extensive restoration that is used to protect a diseased or damaged tooth. This type of restoration can allow a patient to retain a tooth that is severely worn, decayed, or badly broken.

Dental crowns cover the top of a tooth and all its sides above the surface of the gums. Crowns help support neighboring teeth, promote a healthy bite, and prevent the need for tooth extractions. These types of restorations are custom made by technicians in dental laboratories from very durable materials. Patients can choose which material(s) is used for the construction of their crown. Those who desire a natural and discreet restoration will likely want porcelain or porcelain fused to metal while those who are most concerned with cost might prefer metals like silver or gold.

Functional crown lengthening is beneficial for patients who have a tooth that is damaged below the gum line. If a tooth has broken or fractured beneath the gums or has become so worn down that it cannot hold a crown, lengthening the crown of a tooth can provide a stable base for a permanent restoration while also preventing further deterioration of a tooth’s structure.

Decayed tooth prior to crown lenghtening

Crown lengthening exposes more of the tooth surface

Crown is successfully placed