Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening adjusts the gumline around one tooth or across several teeth to reveal more of the tooth structure beneath. The "crown" in the name refers to the visible part of your natural tooth, not a porcelain cap, though the two often go hand in hand. When a tooth has fractured below the gum, has decay extending under the tissue, or has been worn down over years of grinding, there may not be enough solid structure above the gumline for a restoration to grip. Exposing more of that tooth gives a crown or filling a stable edge to seal against, which protects the work we do in our on-site dental lab.

There's also a cosmetic side. Some people have perfectly healthy teeth that simply appear small because excess gum tissue sits low over them, creating what's often called a gummy smile. Others notice their gumline rises and falls unevenly from tooth to tooth, which draws the eye even when the teeth themselves are in great shape. In these cases, crown lengthening — sometimes paired with gum contouring — evens things out and lets the full tooth show. Patients planning porcelain veneers or composite bonding often find that reshaping the gumline first gives the final result better proportion.

Good candidates generally fall into a few groups. We often recommend the procedure for patients who need a crown on a tooth that's broken at or just below the gumline, for teeth with decay that extends under the tissue, and for anyone whose gumline makes their teeth look shorter or more uneven than they'd like. Because we treat patients of all ages here and have five doctors on staff, including general dentists and a board-certified oral and maxillofacial pathologist, we can look at the whole picture before recommending anything.

Healthy gums matter. If you have active gum disease, we'll usually address that first with scaling and root planing or other gum disease treatment, then revisit crown lengthening once the tissue has settled. During your visit we'll examine the tooth, review X-rays, and talk through whether gum tissue alone needs adjusting or whether a small amount of bone should be recontoured as well. Here's what we'll typically discuss together:

• Which teeth are involved and how much tissue needs to be reshaped
• Whether a crown, filling, veneer, or bonding will follow, and when
• Your comfort options, including nitrous oxide sedation or IV sedation
• How the work fits with any other treatment you're considering
• What your insurance or membership plan covers

We offer a complimentary consultation, so there's no cost to find out whether this is the right step for you.

Paying for Treatment

We accept all major PPO insurance plans and are happy to run a complimentary benefits check so you know where you stand before scheduling. We also welcome self-pay patients and accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

If you don't have insurance, our in-house membership plan is $199 a year for adults and $99 for patients 17 and under, with no deductibles, no annual maximum, no waiting period, and 20% to 50% off treatment beyond the covered preventive visits. CareCredit financing is also available.

We'd be glad to take a look. Call our Woodhaven office to schedule your consultation — we see patients from Trenton, Riverview, Flat Rock, and the surrounding communities, and se habla español.