Cosmetic Crown Lengthening

Cosmetic crown lengthening, sometimes called gum lift, is a periodontal procedure that removes excess gum tissue to expose more of the natural tooth structure.  The surgery is often used to correct short-looking teeth or uneven, excessive gum tissue, creating a more aesthetic, balanced smile.

In this case, the top left incisor (right middle one in the picture) is an implant crown and the patient felt it's too bulky because the bone and gum shrank after the tooth was lost. One option was gingivae graft, which can be unpredictable. The other option would be aesthetic crown lengthening to make the top right incisor longer to match the implant crown. This was a better option because the middle incisor should be a bit longer than the lateral one.

During the procedure, we used minimally invasive crown lengthening techniques to reshape both bone and gum to ensure long-term stability. The old unattractive composite veneer was replaced too, but a porcelain veneer would have been a better option. The patient was very happy with the new harmonious, natural-looking smile.