Crown lengthening is a procedure that essentially makes a tooth appear longer. There are two situations in which crown lengthening is typically used tooth restoration or "gummy smile" correction. Cosmetic surgery has become more popular than ever before especially now that more Americans are living longer and aging more gracefully with the help of plastic surgery. Periodontal plastic surgery has also felt this trend as it has experienced a significant shift toward cosmetic-related surgery to help make smiles last a lifetime.

With crown lengthening, youll benefit from:

• enhanced teeth that no longer look short or like "baby teeth"
• a much more attractive smile
• an improved self-image and more self-confidence
• a relatively quick healing period with little pain
• visible results in as little as one week from surgery

Crown lengthening is done when a tooth needs to be fixed. Sometimes, not enough of the tooth sticks out above the gum to support a filling or crown.

This can happen when a tooth breaks off at the gum line. It also can happen when a crown or filling falls out of a tooth and there is decay underneath. To place a filling or crown, your dentist needs to expose more of the tooth. This is done by removing some gum tissue or bone. Some people have a lot of gum tissue around their upper teeth. Dentists call this "gummy smile." This also can be treated with crown lengthening.

Before crown lengthening is done, you will visit a periodontist. At this visit, the periodontist will review your medical history and your X-rays. He or she will set a date for the surgery.

Before the surgery, you may get a professional tooth cleaning.

If the tooth needs a crown, your periodontist may put on a temporary crown. This protects the tooth. It also makes surgery easier, because the surgeon will be able to see how much soft tissue or bone to remove.

The area will heal in about three months. Then, your dentist will prepare the tooth again. He or she will make a new temporary crown to fit the lengthened tooth. Then, he or she will make the final crown.

Crown lengthening is done using local anesthesia. How long it takes will depend on the number of teeth that need treatment. Even if only one tooth is involved, crown lengthening typically includes neighboring teeth, too. That allows the tissues to be reshaped gradually. If both bone and soft tissue are removed, the procedure will take longer than if only soft tissue is removed.

The periodontist will make cuts that will pull the gums away from the teeth. This will expose the roots of the teeth and the surrounding bone. In some cases, simply removing a little gum tissue will expose enough tooth for your dentist to place a crown or filling. However, in most cases, the periodontist will need to remove some bone from around the roots of the teeth. Once the periodontist has exposed enough tooth, the surgical area will be washed with sterile salt water and the gums will be stitched together. Some dentists put a bandage over the stitches.

If you have temporary crowns on any of the involved teeth, the crowns may be removed before the procedure begins. The periodontist will put them back afterward.

You will be given prescriptions for a pain reliever and a mouth rinse. Your dentist will ask you to follow a somewhat soft diet. You can brush the teeth near the stitches, but avoid the gums. Remove food particles with a toothpick or a water irrigator.

For the first two days, use ice on your face. This will reduce swelling.

You will go back to the periodontist in 7 to 10 days to have the stitches taken out. You will go back again 4 to 6 weeks later for a follow-up visit.

Your gums should heal for about three months before the tooth is prepared for the final crown. Gums can shrink as they heal. If you don't wait long enough, the edges of the crown could show. Your regular dentist will put in the crown or filling.

The area may bleed for some time after the procedure. In addition, an infection may develop after the surgery. These complications may occur after any type of surgery.

Some people find that after the surgery, their teeth are sensitive to hot and cold. This is because the roots of the teeth are now exposed. The sensitivity goes away with time, or when a crown is put on the tooth.

Because of the tissue and bone removal, the affected tooth may look longer than the teeth next to it. Removing bone from around a tooth can loosen it. If that tooth is ever lost, it could be more difficult to put in a dental implant to replace it. Your periodontist will talk about these possibilities with you.

Q: What can be done to improve the look of my "gummy" smile?

Q: What can be done to correct my "long" teeth or receding gums?