Principles of crown lengthening surgery

Crown lengthening is an invaluable tool for the restorative dentist in the management of short clinical crown heights. This procedure, as an adjunct to a holistic restorative treatment plan, can produce predictable results, whilst ensuring good aesthetics and maintaining periodontal health. Crown lengthening procedures are invaluable where toothwear or lack of supragingival tooth substance would render full coverage restoration difficult. Gaining access to subgingival caries for strategic abutments can also be achieved in this way. In certain instances, excessive gingival show or inharmonious gingival margin levels can be aesthetically managed with crown lengthening procedures.

Knowledge of crown lengthening techniques, and where these might be prescribed, may be a useful addition to practitioners' treatment planning options, or to decide when referral may be more appropriate.