The Supracrestal Soft Tissue Height as a Guide for Surgical Crown Lengthening Procedures

Surgical crown lengthening (SCL) is a predictable method of increasing the availability of supragingival tooth structure for biologic, esthetic, and/or restorative reasons. However, the literature demonstrates a lack of precision when performing this common procedure due to a number of factors. Among those factors, the use of standardized measurements and reference points will be presented, as well as the limitations inherent to the classical surgical protocol. This review discusses the importance of individualizing supracrestal soft tissue dimensions during SCL interventions and the use of appropriate diagnostic tools while taking into account the phenotypic characteristics of the patient in both functional and esthetic crown lengthening.