This is one of the few surgeries that I really enjoy performing. Lot of people have no idea that their gums can sometimes grow over their teeth.

The cool thing is that the shape of your teeth are usually correlated to your head shape:

• Long shaped oval heads match with longer teeth
• Square shaped heads usually have squarish teeth

If the gums are covering that, sometimes we perceive it as gummy smiles. We can remove the gum, and sometimes the bone along with it, to create a very beautiful smile makeover.

I like to say — we just unearthed the natural beauty within your smile. There’s no extra material, no composite, no porcelain. This is your own tooth, and we are just maximizing the available beauty.

The downtime is minimal. It’s a 3 hour procedure and patients rarely complain of pain. You will notice the difference within a month once the gums and bone fully heal.

Often, when we are doing porcelain or composite veneers, crown lengthening is a common part of the smile design. We let the pictures dictate the ideal position of the teeth, and where gum removal is needed, we do it. It’s guided and predictably beautiful.

The Process

Under local anesthesia, crown lengthening may include:

• Removal of a small amount of gingival tissue
• Bone contouring

There is usually only mild swelling or discomfort, which subsides with rest and over-the-counter pain relief. Most patients recover quickly.

Postoperative Crown Lengthening Instructions

• Maintain proper oral hygiene after the procedure
• Brush and floss carefully
• Attend routine dental exams for proper healing and restoration success

Is Crown Lengthening Right For You?

Patients with broken, rotten, or cosmetically short teeth may benefit from crown lengthening to improve their dental health and smile. Discuss with your dentist to see if this procedure meets your needs.

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