Crown lengthening, explained.
Crown lengthening reshapes the gum, and sometimes the bone, to expose more of a tooth. It is done for two reasons: to give a restoration enough sound tooth to hold onto, and to even out a gum line that shows too much gum when you smile.
What it is
Exposing more of the natural tooth.
A crown, filling, or veneer needs a certain amount of sound tooth above the gum to seal to and hold onto. When decay or a fracture sits at or below the gum line, there may not be enough. Crown lengthening carefully reshapes the gum — and, where needed, a small amount of bone — to expose more tooth so the restoration can be done properly.
Why it is done
Functional, and sometimes aesthetic.
The functional reason is to make a tooth restorable. The aesthetic reason is a "gummy smile" or an uneven gum line — where reshaping the gum margin produces a more even, balanced smile. The two goals often overlap, and the plan is always made together with your dentist where a restoration is involved.
What to expect
A precise, planned procedure.
Crown lengthening is performed under local anaesthetic. After healing, the tissues are allowed to settle before a final restoration is placed, so the gum line is stable. We explain the timeline, healing, and how it coordinates with your dentist's restorative work before treatment begins. Either doctor can plan and perform the procedure.
The full post-operative instructions for crown lengthening are on the site, including when temporary and final restorations can be placed.
Common questions
Frequently asked.
Clinical content
Reviewed by Dr Leande Kotze and Dr Christa Blignaut. Last reviewed 16 May 2026.