Crown lengthening

<p>Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure performed by a <a href="/facts/Dentist/mNfpJUen">dentist</a>, or more frequently a <a href="/facts/Periodontist/rjN1I7KD">periodontist</a>, where more tooth is exposed by removing some of the <a href="/facts/Gingival_margin/3MLcKAGa">gingival margin</a> (gum) and supporting bone. Crown lengthening can also be achieved orthodontically (using braces) by extruding the tooth.
</p><p>Crown lengthening is done for functional and/or esthetic reasons. Functionally, crown lengthening is used to: 1) increase retention and resistance when placing a fabricated <a href="/facts/Crown_(dental_restoration)/HWkeqG27">dental crown</a>, 2) provide access to subgingival <a href="/facts/Tooth_decay/trECbk2z">caries</a>, 3) access accidental tooth perforations, and 4) access external <a href="/facts/Tooth_resorption/HXF3L8Kq">root resorption</a>. Esthetically, crown lengthening is used to alter gum and tooth proportions, such as in a <a href="/facts/Gummy_smile/o60ujn2l">gummy smile</a>. There are a number of procedures used to achieve an increase in crown length.
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Crown lengthening open-in-new

Crown lengthening