Crown lengthening (or crown exposure) often is required when your tooth needs a new crown or restoration.

Crown lengthening is needed when there is not enough of your tooth exposed for your dentist to get proper access to make a new restoration or enough anchorage for long term support.

The procedure involves adjusting the level of the supporting tissues around the tooth to create a new gum-to-tooth relationship. This allows your dentist to predictably reach the edge of the restoration, ensuring a proper fit to the new crown or filling. In addition it provides increased retention of the crown, reducing the possibility of the crown coming uncemented in the future. The procedure also allows you to clean the edge of the restoration, reducing future decay and gum disease.