What is crown lengthening?
Crown lengthening is a procedure on the gum, and sometimes the bone around it, that exposes more of the tooth. It has two purposes: restorative, when a fracture or decay reaches below the gum line, and cosmetic, when teeth look short or too much gum shows when you smile. This guide was written under the supervision of Dr. Banan Alhawamdeh, specialist in periodontics and cosmetic dentistry.
When is it needed for restorative reasons?
- A tooth broken below the gum, where we need sound edges to fit a well-sealed crown.
- Decay extending under the gum.
- A short tooth without enough height to hold a crown.
A crown placed on an edge buried under the gum often causes chronic inflammation and bleeding around it, so crown lengthening is sometimes a necessary step for a crown to last.
And for cosmetic reasons?
- A gummy smile caused by gum covering a large part of the teeth.
- An uneven gum line across the front teeth.
- Before veneers or zirconia, to improve tooth proportions and the shape of the smile.
Gum only, or gum and bone?
| Technique | When it's used |
|---|---|
| Gum contouring (laser or surgical) | When there's excess gum and enough distance between the gum and the bone |
| Crown lengthening with bone reshaping | When more of the tooth must be exposed, so the bone is reshaped slightly for the gum to keep its new shape |
We choose the technique after measuring the gum and assessing the bone on X-ray. Removing gum alone in a case that needs bone reshaping can make the gum grow back to where it was, so accurate diagnosis matters.
Steps and recovery
- Designing the new gum line; in cosmetic cases we plan the smile first.
- Local anaesthetic.
- Reshaping the gum, and bone if needed, then fine stitches.
- A follow-up to remove stitches and check healing.
Discomfort afterwards is usually mild, and the gum heals initially within one to two weeks. Before final restorations on front teeth we usually wait for the gum line to settle, which can take from several weeks to a few months; we set the timing for your case.
Frequently asked questions
Does crown lengthening weaken the tooth?
When properly planned it doesn't weaken the tooth; it allows a well-sealed restoration that protects it. We check beforehand that the root is long enough.
Will the gum grow back after contouring?
When the procedure suits the case, the new gum line stays stable in most cases. Gum usually comes back when only gum was removed in a case that also needed bone reshaping.
Is laser gum contouring painful?
It's done under local anaesthetic, and the discomfort afterwards is usually mild and gone within days.
Gum contouring consultation in Amman
At Dr. Banan Alhawamdeh's clinic in Sweifieh we combine gum treatment and cosmetic dentistry in one plan. See gum treatment and surgery and cosmetic dentistry, or book an appointment.