Crown Lengthening

Crown Lengthening

The portion of the tooth that is visible, the part that sticks out of the gum tissue, is the crown of the tooth. Crown Lengthening is a procedure that allows more of the tooth to be visible.

There are two types of crown lengthening: Functional Crown Lengthening and Esthetic Crown Lengthening. Although the procedures are the same, the reason for undergoing the procedure is different.

Functional Crown Lengthening is usually performed because either a tooth is fractured or there is a cavity under the gum line and your restorative dentist does not have adequate healthy tooth structure to restore the tooth. The purpose of Functional Crown Lengthening is to provide your restorative dentist access to remove all the cavities or to place a cap on the tooth. Not only will they be able to provide a longer-lasting restoration, but it will be more accessible to you to keep it clean.

Esthetic Crown Lengthening, as the name implies, is a cosmetic procedure. Occasionally, a front tooth may not fully erupt out of the gum tissue, a condition called altered eruption. The tooth may appear short or “fat”, there may be an uneven gum line or there may be a “gummy” smile. The problem is that there is too much gum tissue present. Esthetic Crown Lengthening will produce front teeth with a more proportional, even and natural appearance.