Home > Services > Restorative Dentistry > Crown Lengthening
Expose healthy tooth structure below the gumline to secure a future restoration or reshape excess tissue to balance your smile.
Crown lengthening is a precise surgical procedure that gently removes or recontours excess gum and underlying bone tissue to expose more of your natural tooth. Whether required for restorative strength or aesthetic balance, it creates a stable foundation for your dental health. We help you address:
Procedure | Primary Objective | Main Indication |
|---|---|---|
Crown Lengthening | Exposes tooth structure by reshaping both gum and underlying bone | Deep decay below the gumline or preparing a tooth for a crown |
Esthetic Gingivectomy | Reshapes soft gum tissue only for a balanced, symmetrical smile | Correcting a gummy smile or minor uneven gum contours for cosmetics |
Pocket Reduction Surgery | Eliminates deep periodontal pockets to treat active gum disease | Advanced periodontal disease and chronic bone loss |
We examine your gum health and take digital X-rays to measure the bone levels surrounding the affected tooth.
We apply local anesthesia to thoroughly numb the treatment area. You may feel pressure, but you should not feel sharp pain.
We gently adjust the gum and bone tissue to expose the required amount of healthy, solid tooth structure.
We provide detailed post-operative care instructions to help your tissues heal comfortably over the next few weeks.
When Dr. Mohammad Hammoud performs crown lengthening, he ensures your restorative and periodontal health work in complete harmony. Placing a crown on a tooth with decay extending beneath the gumline risks long-term failure because the restoration cannot seal properly. By performing crown lengthening first, we establish a healthy, accessible biological width that allows your final restoration to last for years.
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia to ensure you are completely comfortable, though you can expect mild soreness as the area heals over the next few days.
If a tooth breaks too close to or beneath the gumline, there is not enough natural structure for a crown to grip onto; lengthening the crown exposes healthy enamel to anchor the restoration.
While initial soft tissue healing takes a week or two, full maturation of the gum and bone typically requires a few weeks before we take your final crown impressions.
Yes. When performed for a gummy smile, it removes excess soft tissue to reveal more of your natural tooth and create a balanced frame.
If you have a compromised tooth that requires structural preparation, contact our Dearborn team today to discuss your treatment options.
Reviewed by Dr. Mohammad Hammoud, DMD – 313 Dental, Dearborn, MI
