Some people have teeth of a perfectly normal size that simply look short, because more gum tissue covers them than average. The result is often described as a gummy smile. Cosmetic crown lengthening reshapes the gum — and where necessary a small amount of the underlying bone — to expose more of the tooth and restore balanced proportions.
Who it suits
This procedure helps when an uneven gumline makes individual teeth look mismatched, when a high smile line shows a band of gum above the teeth, or when teeth appear stubby relative to their width. It is often planned alongside veneers or crowns, because establishing the right gum position first allows the restorations to be made in correct proportion rather than compensating for the gumline.
Your dentist at Parkway Dental will assess your smile line, the health of your gums, and the position of the bone beneath before recommending it. Gum disease must be treated and stabilised first.
What to expect
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic. The planned new gumline is marked, often using a guide made from photographs and a wax-up so the result matches the agreed design. Excess gum tissue is removed with a scalpel or a soft-tissue laser. Where the bone sits too close to where the new gum margin needs to be, a small amount is recontoured so the tissue heals at the correct level rather than creeping back.
Treating several teeth typically takes an hour to ninety minutes.
Healing
Expect mild soreness and some swelling for a few days, manageable with over-the-counter pain relief and a cold compress. Eat softer foods initially and avoid brushing directly over the surgical area until your dentist advises, using the prescribed rinse instead.
Gum tissue takes time to settle. The initial appearance improves quickly, but the final position is usually not stable for around three months — and if bone was recontoured, restorations such as veneers are normally delayed until then so they can be made to the final gumline.