Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is done when a tooth is not exposed enough above the gumline for a crown (restoration) to properly fit. Crown lengthening prevents the final crown from loosening and falling out and allows for proper alignment of the crown on the tooth. This minimizes the potential for bone loss, tooth decay at the edge of the restoration and gum recession. The surgery takes about an hour and is most frequently done with local anesthesia.
Sometimes crown lengthening surgery is done when teeth are covered by excess gum tissue.
By reshaping the tissue around the teeth, additional tooth structure can be exposed for a lovely smile.