Surgical crown lengthening for function and esthetics

Clinical crown lengthening is a useful procedure to provide tooth length for proper restoration of a tooth without compromising the periodontium or the retentive qualities of the restoration. It is also useful for enhancing maxillary anterior esthetics. Crown lengthening may be as simple as a limited removal of soft tissue or as complex as orthodontic extrusion followed by flap with osseous surgery on a tooth requiring endodontic therapy. Total treatment could thus involve endodontic, orthodontic, periodontic, and restorative procedures. Careful evaluation, case selection, treatment planning, and surgical treatment following the principles outlined in this article can achieve results that meet the functional and esthetic challenges of current dental practice.