Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a dental procedure that adjusts the gumline to expose more of your natural tooth. At Creating Beautiful Smiles in Racine, WI, Dr. Palmer and Dr. Smalkoski perform crown lengthening for two main reasons: to prepare a tooth for a dental crown or other restoration, and to improve the appearance of a smile that shows too much gum tissue. When a tooth is too short, damaged close to or below the gumline, or has significant decay beneath the gum tissue, there may not be enough tooth structure available to securely anchor a crown. Crown lengthening creates the space needed by gently reshaping the gum and sometimes a small amount of underlying bone, exposing more of the tooth so a properly fitting restoration can be placed. Without this step, a crown placed on an inadequate amount of tooth structure is more likely to fail over time or contribute to gum irritation. Crown lengthening is also used for cosmetic purposes. Some people have what is often described as a gummy smile, where more gum tissue shows than typical when smiling. This can make teeth appear shorter than they actually are, even when the teeth themselves are completely healthy. By carefully recontouring the gumline, crown lengthening reveals a more balanced, proportionate smile that looks exactly as it should. The procedure is more straightforward than many patients expect, and our team at Creating Beautiful Smiles takes every step to make sure you are comfortable and well-informed throughout. Whether your crown lengthening is part of a restorative treatment plan or a cosmetic improvement, the results can make a meaningful difference in both the health and appearance of your smile.

Crown lengthening at Creating Beautiful Smiles is an outpatient procedure performed right in our Racine, WI office. Before the procedure begins, local anesthesia is used to numb the area being treated, so you will be comfortable throughout. If you have concerns about anxiety or discomfort, our team can discuss sedation options to help you feel at ease. Once the area is numb, your dentist will make small, precise incisions in the gum tissue to gently separate it from the teeth. This exposes the underlying tooth structure and bone. A small amount of bone may also be reshaped to achieve the appropriate tooth-to-gum ratio, depending on the specifics of your case. After the necessary adjustments are made, the gum tissue is repositioned and sutured into place. The healing process begins right away, and most patients find recovery quite manageable. You can expect some swelling and mild tenderness in the treated area for a few days following the procedure. We will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions and may recommend a soft diet while your gums heal. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled to check on your healing and remove the sutures. The full healing process typically takes a few weeks, and your dentist will wait until the gums have fully stabilized before placing any permanent restoration on the treated tooth. This patience is important because placing a crown before the tissue heals completely can compromise the final result. Our team will guide you through every phase of recovery and make sure the final outcome meets your expectations.