A small change, carefully done
Supports a solid restoration
When a tooth is too short, a crown or filling has nothing to grip. A little more surface gives it a firm hold.
Evens a gummy smile
If your teeth look short and your gums do the talking, reshaping the gumline brings them back into balance.
A precise, minor procedure
Done in-clinic under local anaesthetic. We shape conservatively and explain each step before we begin.
A little more tooth, exactly where it’s needed
Crown lengthening gently reshapes the gum (and sometimes a little bone) to expose more of a tooth. There are two common reasons: a crown or filling needs more tooth surface to hold onto, or a “gummy” smile would look more balanced with a touch more tooth showing.
It’s a precise, in-clinic procedure, and we’ll explain exactly what we’re doing and why before we begin, along with the cost, in writing.
What to expect
01
Plan the gumline
We map exactly how much gum, and sometimes bone, to reshape. You see the plan and the price before we start.
02
Reshape gum and bone
Under local anaesthetic, we gently remove a little tissue to expose the tooth. Precise, and only where it’s needed.
03
Heal, then restore
The gums settle over a few weeks. If a crown is next, we wait for proper healing before the final fit.
When crown lengthening helps
- A tooth too short to hold a crown or filling
- Decay or a break that extends below the gumline
- A “gummy” smile you’d like to balance
- An uneven gumline across your front teeth
- Preparing a tooth for restorative work
- Improving the proportions of a tooth
Frequently asked questions
Is crown lengthening painful?
No, the area is fully numbed. Most people have only mild tenderness for a few days afterward.
How long does it take to heal?
The gums settle over a few weeks. If it’s prep for a crown, we’ll allow proper healing before the final restoration.
Is it cosmetic or necessary?
It can be either. Sometimes it’s needed to make a restoration possible; sometimes it’s purely to balance a gummy smile. We’ll tell you which applies to you.
Will my gums look natural after?
Yes, the goal is a balanced, natural result. We shape conservatively so the gumline looks like it was always meant to be that way.
Related treatments
Restorative Dentistry
The crown or filling this procedure makes room for.
Gum Grafts
The opposite problem: too little gum, added back where it’s receded.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Evening out a gummy smile as part of a wider cosmetic plan.