Crown Lengthening - Boise & Meridian, ID
Achieve a Balanced Smile with Crown Lengthening
"I Had To Figure Out How To Hide My Smile, It Never Looked Natural"
"I Had To Figure Out How To Hide My Smile, It Never Looked Natural"
What Is Crown Lengthening?
Do you ever feel your gums overtake your smile? A gummy smile can make your teeth appear too short or too small, creating an unbalanced look. Crown lengthening is a specialized procedure to reshape the gumline and underlying bone to reveal more of your natural tooth structure.
Our periodontal specialists at Idaho Perio have advanced expertise in crown lengthening for cosmetic enhancement, the treatment of gum disease, and providing enough tooth structure to restore badly damaged teeth.
What Are the Benefits
of Tooth Lengthening?
- Improves the balance and symmetry of your smile
- Provides necessary tooth exposure for crowns or fillings
- Enhances overall oral health by reducing pockets where bacteria can thrive
- Makes it easier to clean the teeth effectively
- Increases comfort and confidence in your smile
What to Expect from
Our Crown Lengthening Procedure
First, our team will evaluate your oral health thoroughly, including taking detailed diagnostic images like digital X-rays, to create a personalized treatment plan appropriate to your needs. Before starting your procedure, we’ll thoroughly numb the area and ensure you’re completely comfortable with the right sedation option .
From there, we’ll carefully remove or reshape excess gum tissue and, if necessary, adjust the underlying bone to create the cosmetic and functional benefits of crown extension. Then, we’ll place sutures and appropriate dressings to ensure a smooth healing process. You may experience some swelling and discomfort for several days after your procedure. Most of the healing process takes about two weeks, and complete healing takes about two months.
Are You a Candidate for Crown Lengthening?
- You have a “gummy smile”
- Your teeth look too small or too short
- Your teeth sit too low in the jawbone or gums, so the crown of the tooth is not fully exposed
- A tooth needs a crown or filling, but there is not enough tooth structure above the gums
- Some cracks or cavities go below your gumline
- You have gum disease and need a way to eliminate deep pockets in your gums
Experience State-of-the-Art Care for Healthier Smiles & Better Outcomes
At Idaho Perio, our team is dedicated to delivering precise care using state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical technology. We tailor each treatment to your unique needs and always prioritize your health and comfort.
From advanced techniques to our gentle and compassionate team, we ensure a smooth experience and outstanding results. Plus, we can help you navigate flexible financing options to make the cost of crown lengthening as manageable as possible.
Crown Lengthening FAQ
Crown lengthening is a procedure that reshapes the gumline and, when needed, the underlying bone to reveal more of your natural tooth structure. It’s used both to improve the appearance of a “gummy” smile and to prepare a tooth for restorative work like a crown or filling.
There are both cosmetic and functional reasons. Cosmetically, it corrects a gummy smile, makes teeth appear longer and more proportionate, and improves overall smile balance. Functionally, it provides adequate tooth structure for a crown or filling, addresses cavities or cracks that extend below the gumline, and can eliminate deep gum pockets associated with periodontal disease.
The process begins with a thorough oral health evaluation using diagnostic imaging. Anesthesia or sedation is used to keep you comfortable, then the periodontist removes or reshapes excess gum tissue and adjusts the underlying bone if necessary. The procedure finishes with sutures and a protective dressing over the treated area.
The procedure itself is performed under anesthesia or sedation to keep you comfortable. Afterward, it’s normal to experience some swelling and discomfort for the first several days, which is manageable and expected as part of healing.
Initial swelling and discomfort typically improve within a few days. Primary healing generally takes about two weeks, while complete healing of the gum and bone tissue takes closer to two months.
You may be a candidate if you have excessive gum display when you smile, teeth that appear disproportionately small, not enough tooth structure exposed above the gumline, cavities or cracks that extend below the gum, or advanced periodontal disease with deep pockets. A consultation with our periodontal team can confirm whether it’s the right fit for you.
Yes. Beyond cosmetic improvement, crown lengthening can make it possible to properly restore a damaged tooth with a crown or filling, eliminate gum pockets tied to periodontal disease, and make it easier to keep the area clean, which supports better oral hygiene overall.
