If your teeth appear too short, crown lengthening can correct the appearance. Excess gum tissue and possibly some bone are removed to "lengthen" the tooth. More crown is exposed to establish the right proportion between the gum and tooth displayed when smiling.

Aesthetic crown lengthening is generally used to correct two situations. Sometimes gingival tissue overgrows the teeth causing what is commonly referred to as a "gummy smile". Your teeth appear short making the gum tissue seem disproportionate. Trimming the tissue and bone to expose more of your natural teeth restores a pleasing contour and enables a broader smile.

In the second situation, the gum line is uneven, giving the appearance of shorter and longer teeth. Teeth that appear short can have the gingival tissue and bone sculpted to expose more tooth structure. If necessary, teeth that are "too long" can be treated with the following grafting procedures. The result will be an even, symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing smile.