Cosmetic Crown Lengthening
Surgical reshaping of gum and bone to improve smile aesthetics.
Cosmetic crown lengthening removes excess gum tissue and sometimes bone to expose more tooth structure, creating a more proportional and attractive smile. It's the primary treatment for 'gummy smile' where excessive gum tissue makes teeth appear short and square. The procedure can be performed on a single tooth or across the entire smile zone. The procedure involves reflecting the gum tissue, recontouring bone if necessary to maintain proper biologic width (3mm minimum from bone to gum margin), and suturing the tissue at the desired level. Healing takes 3-6 months before final restorations can be placed. Laser crown lengthening (gum recontouring without bone modification) offers faster healing but is only appropriate when bone recontouring isn't needed. Results are permanent and can dramatically improve smile proportions.