Why do I need crown lengthening?

Do you have excess gum tissue creating the appearance of short teeth? If so, you have what we call a gummy smile. Crown lengthening can be performed to remove unnecessary gum tissue in order to expose more of the tooth surface. This procedure can also be referred as a Gum lift or gingivectomy.

Aesthetically speaking there are ideal shapes and size for your teeth and gums. The ratio of teeth to gums remains an important component to a beautiful balanced smile.

What is functional crown lengthening?

Functional crown lengthening is a procedure performed to repair a broken or badly decayed tooth. With functional crown lengthening, we can surgically access the tooth below the gum line, lowering the gum tissue and bone to prepare for proper restoration. Once this procedure is complete, we can put a crown or bridge to restore your smile.

Who performs the procedure?

At River Valley Dental, our dentist will help identify if crown lengthening is required and, if so, we will refer you to a periodontist. A periodontist is a specialist in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal diseases.