Crown Lengthening: Purpose and Procedure
Crown lengthening is a type of oral surgery that reduces the amount of a patient’s gum tissue and exposes more of the patient’s tooth material. This procedure can be used in a number of circumstances. Some patients pursue crown lengthening for purely aesthetic reasons, such as eliminating a “gummy smile,” while others may need the surgery to uncover enough tooth material to support a restoration, such as a crown or filling. Crown lengthening may also be needed in cases of broken or severely decayed teeth in which there is minimal remaining tooth material below the gumline. In performing oral surgery, such as crown lengthening, small incisions are made in the gums to pull tissue away from the tooth’s roots. Sometimes, it will be necessary for the surgeon to remove bone material surrounding the roots, as well, in order to achieve the desired appearance. After all the necessary tissue has been…