Periodontal Disease: Crown Lengthening
- Lebowitz Dental Team
- Apr 18
- 2 min read
Welcome to our health education library. The information shared below is provided to you as an educational and informational source only and is not intended to replace a medical examination or consultation, or medical advice given to you by a physician or medical professional.
When you look in the mirror, does your gumline look uneven? Or do you see too little gum? These are common effects of periodontal disease. A type of gum surgery called gingival surgery can lower or even out the gumline. And if more of the tooth needs to be exposed, gingival surgery can fix that, too. One type of gingival surgery is called crown lengthening.
How Crown Lengthening Works
Surgery to expose more of the crown (the part of the tooth you can see) includes:
Functional lengthening. In some cases, a restoration (artificial crown) is needed. Gum and bone are removed to expose enough tooth to anchor the new crown. This also helps prevent future damage to gum and bone near the restoration.
Cosmetic lengthening. This is done to remove an overgrowth of gum tissue that causes a "gummy" smile. It can improve appearance and may make teeth easier to keep clean.
Lebowitz Dental Associates has been proudly serving Arizona families since 1917.
From cosmetic care to complex cases, we bring generations of trusted experience and compassion to every smile. Need an appointment? Call us at 602.264.2905 or request one online here. We’d be honored to care for you. Learn more about us here.
