Exposing more tooth so a crown or filling can be placed properly, at Highfield Dental Clinic, Edgbaston.
Some teeth cannot be restored predictably without more tooth exposed. This procedure makes restoration possible where it otherwise would not be.
Functional crown lengthening is a surgical procedure that removes a small amount of gum and, usually, bone from around a tooth, exposing more of its structure. It is carried out where decay or a fracture extends below the gum line, leaving too little tooth for a crown or filling to grip.
The aim is to create a sound margin of tooth above the gum and to protect the biological attachment between gum and tooth. Placing a crown edge too deeply without this procedure causes ongoing gum inflammation and bone loss.
Tooth broken below the gum line in Birmingham? Our experienced team will assess whether crown lengthening could make it restorable.
Surgery is carried out under local anaesthetic, usually in one appointment. It typically involves:
A healing period of several weeks is needed before the final crown is made, so the gum position stabilises first.
Crown lengthening changes the gum level around the treated tooth, which can leave it looking longer and may expose more root, causing sensitivity. On front teeth this needs particularly careful planning to keep the gum line even.
It also reduces the bone support around the tooth and neighbouring teeth, so it is not appropriate in every case. Alternatives include orthodontic extrusion, which moves the tooth upward instead, or extraction and replacement. Your clinician will explain the benefits, risks and costs of each option before you decide.
Because the remaining tooth sits too close to or below the gum for a crown to grip properly. Without it, the restoration is likely to fail or cause gum problems.
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, so the procedure is comfortable. Soreness for several days afterwards is normal and manageable.
Usually several weeks, allowing the gum to heal and settle into its final position. Front teeth often need a longer wait for aesthetic accuracy.
Yes, as more of the tooth is exposed. On back teeth this rarely matters, and on front teeth we plan carefully to keep the gum line even.
No. Functional crown lengthening is carried out to make a tooth restorable. Cosmetic contouring is done purely to improve appearance.
Orthodontic extrusion can bring the tooth up instead, or the tooth may need extracting and replacing. We will discuss which suits your case.
