Crown Lengthening

At Dental Excellence, we can help extend the surface of the tooth where needed with crown lengthening treatments.

Designed to help increase and extend the visible surface of the tooth, crown lengthening can be deemed necessary for a variety of reasons. It is sometimes needed in order to safely and securely carry out another treatment such as the application of a bridge or a crown. In other cases, patients may want to receive crown lengthening to address a ‘gummy smile’.

A ‘gummy smile’ is a smile where more of the gum is visible when we smile than is usual. While this may not be causing any clinical or oral health issues for the patient, it can cause feelings of self-consciousness and unhappiness. If this is the case, then crown lengthening could be the answer.

While the treatment itself usually only takes one appointment, it does require a high level of skill and dexterity, which our dental team excel at. Local anaesthetic is given at the start of the treatment, so the patient is comfortable throughout, and then the gum will be contoured and shaped so more of the tooth surface is visible. In some cases, some form of bone contouring may be necessary so that more of the tooth is visible above the gum line.