Crown Lengthening (Gummy Smile Treatment)

Sometimes when you come in for a regular appointment or checkup, our team may recommend that you undergo a crown lengthening procedure.

Crown lengthening is a procedure that helps to reshape your gums at the base of the affected tooth to expose more of the tooth’s surface. If necessary, this procedure can also adjust the tooth’s bone level so that the size of the visible portion of the tooth can be extended so that the new restoration has enough surface area to be held in place.

When Is Crown Lengthening Necessary?

This procedure is recommended for a variety of different dental conditions. Some of the most common issues in which crown lengthening is needed include teeth that are too short, tooth decay that is severe below the gum line, or a broken or fractured tooth beneath the gum line.

When you experience tooth decay or broken teeth, the healthy part that remains is greatly reduced–this can affect the success rate of tooth restorations since there will not be a large surface area to work with. Crown lengthening helps to expose more of the tooth’s surface, allowing the restoration to have a better chance of success in staying put and not falling off or breaking.

The Procedure

Our team is ready to help you undergo a crown lengthening procedure in a quick, and relatively painless manner. This is a very common procedure and can take place in usually less than one hour in our office. Before the procedure is performed, you will be fitted for a temporary crown to ensure that your natural tooth stays protected during the process. 

Our Periodontists will carefully and expertly perform the procedure under the use of a local anesthetic. Using specific dental tools, your affected gums and the area of the surrounding tooth or teeth will be reconstructed–we will recontour the gums and the underlying bone until the teeth are the appropriate length for a dental restoration or appliance to be applied to the tooth correctly. 

After the procedure is completed, patients may experience some swelling and minor pain, but this can easily be relieved through the use of over-the-counter medicine and an ice pack to the affected area. After about one to two weeks, our Periodontists will check your mouth and remove the stitches. Around four to six weeks after the procedure, our Periodontists will thoroughly inspect your teeth and gums before clearing you for full restoration. 

Our practice is happy to be able to help you achieve a healthy and confident smile and mouth through the use of crown lengthening. If you have any further questions regarding this procedure or symptoms after your procedure, we encourage you to reach out to our team directly at 561-734-2001 in Boynton Beach or 561-967-0476 in West Palm Beach.