CROWN LENGTHENING

For some patients, an uneven or misplaced gumline can cause their smile to appear aesthetically unpleasing, or gums can make it difficult to place a restoration. Our Memphis periodontists can remedy the situation with aesthetic or functional crown lengthening, to reveal more of your teeth and provide an aesthetic, functional smile.

What is Crown Lengthening?

Crown lengthening, also known as a “gum lift”, typically involves the use of a laser to safely and gently remove excess gum tissue to reveal more of the crowns of your teeth. The procedure only takes an hour or so, and the solution is usually permanent.

Benefits of Crown Lengthening

PreTreatment: Short stubby teeth make the face appear fuller just like horizontal stripes on a shirt.

PostTreatment: Longer Teeth accentuate the face. Longer teeth make the face look longer which makes one look thinner just like vertical stripes on a shirt.

This procedure can allow for a gumline to be raised and evened out for a pleasing smile or allow for a better fit of a restoration of a tooth has been badly damaged below the gumline. Crown lengthening done with a laser has a swift recovery time, and generally no complications. Additional periodontal or dental work can usually be done shortly after a crown lengthening procedure.

Aesthetic Crown Lengthening

A gum lift can make your smile more even and may be combined with other procedures such as veneers or restorations for a brilliant smile. If you have a gummy smile, or feel that your teeth look stubby or short, you can ask for an aesthetic gum lift to improve your appearance.

Laser Esthetic Crown Lengthening Case Example (No Veneers or Crowns)

Pre-Treatment – “Gummy Smile”
Post-Treatment – “Esthetic Smile”

Laser Esthetic Crown Lengthening Case Example (with Veneers, Crowns, and Bridges)

Pre-Treatment – “Gummy Smile”, Old Crowns and Bridges
Post-Treatment – “Esthetic Smile”, New Veneers, Crowns, and Bridges

Functional Crown Lengthening

If you have a badly damaged tooth, Dr. Craddock or Dr. Godat may suggest functional crown lengthening to allow for a better fit for your tooth restoration. This is an option for when teeth are cracked, fractured, or have a significant amount of tooth decay extending into the gum line.

Decreasing the amount of gum tissue around the tooth allows a comfortable fit for new restoration placement and can help prevent bacteria from entering the space between the crown and the tooth, which can cause hidden decay.

Both aesthetic and functional crown lengthening may use dissolvable sutures and a protective bandage. Follow-up appointments are typically scheduled for two to three weeks after the procedure to remove any remaining sutures and assess the amount of healing.

Contact us today for a consultation and find out if an aesthetic gum lift or functional crown lengthening could be right for you.