Crown Lengthening
What Is Crown Lengthening? (Giving Your Tooth More Room to Breathe)
Crown lengthening sounds like we're making your crown longer, but it’s actually the opposite—we’re making more of your natural tooth visible by precisely adjusting the gum and sometimes the bone around it.1
Here’s the situation nobody expects: you need a crown, but the tooth has broken off at the gum line, or a deep cavity extends far below it. There simply isn't enough healthy tooth structure showing for a crown to grab onto securely. Crown lengthening is the surgical procedure that uncovers more of your tooth, creating the necessary foundation for a successful and long-lasting restoration.2
Why Your Tooth Might Need This Procedure
There are several common reasons why a tooth might not have enough structure exposed:
- A Severe Fracture: The tooth has broken off right at, or even below, the gum line.3
- Deep Decay: A cavity has traveled far beneath the gums, and we need to chase it down to get a clean margin.
- A "Gummy Smile": Sometimes, excess gum tissue naturally covers a large portion of the teeth, making them appear short.4
- Short Clinical Crowns: Some people just naturally have shorter teeth that don't provide enough surface area for a crown to hold on to.
The "Biologic Width" Rule (And Why It's So Important)
Here’s the science behind the procedure: your body maintains a sacred 2-3mm zone of attachment for the gum tissue around each tooth. This is called the biologic width. If we place a crown margin too deep and violate this space, your gums will become perpetually angry, red, and inflamed.5 Crown lengthening surgically moves this zone, creating enough space for both your gums to be happy and for your crown to have a solid grip.6
What to Expect: The Crown Lengthening Journey
The Procedure (It’s less scary than it sounds)
This minor surgical procedure, often performed by a specialist called a periodontist, typically takes about 30-60 minutes. The area is completely numbed, and excess gum tissue (and sometimes a small amount of bone) is reshaped to expose more of the tooth.7 The gums are then sutured into their new, slightly lower position.8
The Healing Journey
Healing is the most important part of the process. It adds time to your crown treatment, but it's essential.
- Week 1: Some minor swelling and tenderness are normal.9 A soft diet is recommended.
- Weeks 2-4: Sutures are removed, and the gums begin to look pink and healthy again.
- Months 2-3: Healing is now complete, and the gum position is stable.10 At this point, you are finally ready to have the impression taken for your new crown.
Functional vs. Aesthetic Crown Lengthening
- Functional Crown Lengthening: This is what we do to save a broken-down back tooth. The goal is purely functional—to expose enough tooth for a crown.
- Aesthetic Crown Lengthening: This is performed on front teeth to fix a "gummy smile."11 By adjusting the gum levels, we can create more beautiful, proportional teeth, completely transforming a person's smile.12
While this procedure adds time and cost to your treatment, it is often the only way to save a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted.13 It turns a compromised situation into a predictable success.
Here's what we want you to remember:
Crown lengthening is a common and predictable surgical procedure that creates the necessary foundation for a successful crown on a tooth that is broken or decayed below the gum line.14 It is an investment in saving your natural tooth.15
Every patient's situation is unique.
Whether you need this procedure, and whether it involves just gum tissue or also the underlying bone, requires careful measurement and diagnosis. We will always explain the alternatives, including extraction and a dental implant, so you can make a fully informed choice.
Facing a tooth broken at the gum line?
Been told you need crown lengthening but want a second opinion? We're here to give you honest, personalized answers. Schedule a consultation at our Woodland Hills practice – let's talk about what's really best for your smile.