In many cases of dental decay, tooth fracture, or even in instances where an individual has "short" teeth, crown lengthening may be prescribed.

Do you feel your teeth look too short and your smile is too gummy or your gums cover too much of some teeth while leaving the others the right length? Your teeth may actually be the proper lengths, but they're covered with too much gum tissue. To correct this, Dr. Gurinsky performs crown lengthening. This can be done to one tooth, or to several teeth. Your gum line can be carefully sculpted to create just the right proportion between gum tissue and tooth surface -- and the result is a better looking smile.

Your dentist may also recommend crown lengthening to make a restorative or cosmetic dental procedure possible. A tooth which is broken or decayed below the gum is difficult, if not impossible, to restore correctly, as access and visualization of the area is compromised. With crown lengthening, Dr. Gurinsky removes the excess gum tissue, and exposes more of the crown of the tooth.