Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Work Hours
Monday to Friday: 7AM - 7PM
Weekend: 10AM - 5PM
PERIODONTAL + RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY / YORKVILLE + WATERLOO
Crown
Lengthening
Reshaping the gum and supporting tissues when more tooth structure needs to be exposed.
WHEN THE TOOTH IS THERE, BUT ACCESS ISN’T
Create the space restoration needs.
Crown lengthening is a periodontal procedure used to expose additional tooth structure by carefully reshaping gum tissue and, in selected cases, the supporting bone around a tooth.
It may be considered when decay or fracture extends below the gumline, when a restoration requires additional sound tooth structure, or when the gumline needs reshaping as part of a broader restorative or aesthetic plan.
Why it may be recommended
Provide access to decay or damage beneath the gumline
Create appropriate tooth structure for a crown or other restoration
Improve the relationship between a restoration and the surrounding gum tissue
Reshape an uneven or excessive gum display in selected aesthetic cases
THE RESTORATIVE SEQUENCE
A periodontal step with a restorative purpose.
01
Evaluate
The tooth, gumline, bone level and planned restoration are assessed together.
02
Reshape
Gum tissue, and sometimes a small amount of supporting bone, is adjusted to expose the required tooth structure.
03
Restore
After appropriate healing, the tooth can proceed to the definitive restorative phase when indicated.
RESTORATION AFTER HEALING
Planning the final tooth from the beginning.
Ashraf Dentistry’s restorative workflow includes digital scanning and in-house CEREC technology for selected crowns, inlays, onlays and bridges.
When crown lengthening is being performed to support a restoration, the periodontal and restorative stages are planned together so the final crown margin, gum health and cleansability can all be considered.
AESTHETICS + GUMLINE
Sometimes the issue is proportion.
In selected cases, crown lengthening can also be used to alter the visible proportion of tooth and gum. The aim is not simply to remove tissue, but to establish a stable relationship between the teeth, gumline and underlying bone.
The appropriate approach depends on periodontal health, tooth position, smile line and the amount of tooth structure involved.
Related periodontal care
Connective tissue grafts and gum grafting address the opposite problem: areas where gum tissue is too thin or has receded rather than covering too much tooth.
CROWN LENGTHENING / YORKVILLE + WATERLOO
Make room for the restoration to succeed.
Schedule an assessment to determine whether crown lengthening is appropriate for restorative access, gumline balance or both.