Reviewed by Dr. Kerri Font, DDS
Reading time: three minutes.
Crown lengthening is a simple way to reveal more of your natural tooth and create a healthier, more balanced smile. By gently reshaping the gum and sometimes the bone around a tooth, this procedure can make space for crowns or fillings, improve gum health, and enhance how your teeth look.
Many patients choose crown lengthening to correct a gummy smile or to treat damage hidden below the gum line.
Table of Contents
- What is Crown Lengthening?
- The Crown Lengthening Procedure
- Benefits of Seeing a Periodontist
- Schedule a Consultation in Highlands Ranch or Sloan’s Lake
- FAQs About Crown Lengthening
Key Takeaway
Crown lengthening carefully reshapes your gums to show more of your natural tooth. This simple procedure can improve a gummy smile, help repair damage below the gum line, and create a healthier foundation for crowns or fillings.
What is Crown Lengthening?
Crown lengthening is a type of oral surgery that reshapes gum tissue, and sometimes the underlying bone tissues, to expose more of the tooth structure.
It can be done on a single tooth, multiple teeth, or the entire gum line. This dental procedure can improve esthetic appearance, create space for restorative dental procedures like dental crowns or dental implants, or treat damage below the gum line.
Reasons for Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening procedures serve both cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry goals.
Cosmetic reasons:
- A gummy smile can be corrected when excess gum tissue is reduced, making teeth appear longer and more balanced.
- An uneven gum line can be improved by reshaping the gum tissues to create a more symmetrical smile.
- Disproportionate teeth can be addressed by adjusting the crown to root ratio, enhancing the overall esthetic appearance.
Restorative purposes:
- Supporting a crown or bridge requires exposing enough healthy tooth structure to securely hold the restoration. In some cases, crown lengthening can also improve tissue contours around dental implants.
- By exposing areas below the gum line, crown lengthening makes it possible to remove decay or repair fractures that would otherwise be inaccessible.
- Creating extra space around a damaged tooth makes it easier to place a filling or crown and lowers the chance of gum problems.
Oral health benefits:
- Crown lengthening lowers the risk of tooth decay and gum disease by making it easier to keep the area clean.
- This treatment protects teeth from damage by easing pressure and helping prevent fractures and bone loss.
The Crown Lengthening Procedure
After a consultation with our dental team in Colorado, we create a personalized plan. The following steps are typically involved in the crown lengthening procedure:
- During the consultation, your teeth and gums are examined, your medical history is reviewed, and digital images are taken to guide treatment planning.
- Local anesthesia is used to keep you comfortable, and sedation is available if needed. You will not feel pain during the procedure.
- Gum reshaping is performed by making small incisions to adjust the height and shape of the gum tissue.
- Sutures are placed to close the surgical site and promote healing.
Benefits of Seeing a Periodontist
Our periodontists, Dr. Bahman (Mike) Norouzinia and Dr. Kerri Font, are experienced dental surgeons who specialize in treating gum tissues and bone tissues. They provide:
- Precise reshaping of gum and bone
- Coordinated care that supports your overall oral health and treatment goals.
Our team in Highlands Ranch and Sloan’s Lake uses advanced, conservative methods to minimize risks and deliver excellent outcomes.
Schedule a Consultation in Highlands Ranch or Sloan’s Lake
Crown lengthening is a safe, effective way to support your dental health and improve the appearance of your smile. If you are considering this treatment, our team is here to answer your questions and guide you through every step.
To book an appointment at our periodontal clinic in Highlands Ranch, CO, call (303) 683-1144 or visit us at 9090 S Ridgeline Blvd. #225, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129.
To book an appointment at our periodontal office in Sloan’s Lake, call (303) 683-1144 or visit us at 525 North Raleigh Street Suite 130 Denver, CO 80204.
FAQs About Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is typically not painful. The procedure is done under local anesthesia or sedation, ensuring that you are comfortable throughout the entire treatment.
Most patients experience complete gum healing within 1–2 weeks. Some may require a longer period depending on the number of teeth treated and individual healing response.
Healing after crown lengthening usually starts with mild swelling, tenderness, or slight bleeding in the first few days. As the days pass, these symptoms gradually improve, and the gums begin to stabilize. Within one to two weeks, most of the healing is complete, and any sutures are typically removed. The area will continue to strengthen over the following weeks as the tissues fully recover.