Crown Lengthening
Crown Lengthening provided by Our Expert Dentists
in Bells, Jackson, Milan & Lexington, TN at Premier Dental Center
 Crown lengthening at Premier Dental Center in Jackson, Bells, Milan, and Lexington, TN reshapes the gum, and sometimes the bone beneath it, to expose more of your natural tooth.
It is a versatile procedure that solves two very different problems: it can even out a smile that shows too much gum, and it can uncover enough tooth structure to make a damaged tooth restorable.
If a dentist has told you a tooth needs crown lengthening before a crown or filling can be placed, that usually means the part of the tooth they need to work on sits at or below the gumline. Exposing it gives the restoration something solid to hold onto and protects the gum health around it.
The same procedure also has a cosmetic side. For teeth that look short because the gums cover too much of them, crown lengthening reveals their true proportions. Whichever reason brings you in, the goal is the same: the right amount of healthy tooth showing.
On This Page
What Is Crown Lengthening?
 Crown lengthening removes a small amount of gum tissue, and often a small amount of the bone underneath, to expose more of the tooth above the gumline. The name can be confusing: nothing is added to the tooth and no crown is placed during the procedure itself. We do not make the tooth taller; we simply uncover more of it.
That distinction from gum contouring matters. Gum contouring trims soft tissue only and is purely cosmetic. Crown lengthening goes a step further by reshaping bone when needed, which is why it can do things contouring cannot, like uncovering tooth for a restoration. When a case only needs the gumline tidied, we will steer you toward gum contouring instead.
Reasons for Crown Lengthening
Patients come to us for crown lengthening for both health and appearance reasons, and often a mix of the two. Understanding which applies to you shapes the whole plan.
Restorative Reasons
When a tooth is broken, decayed, or worn down near the gumline, there may not be enough tooth showing for a crown or filling to grip. Crown lengthening exposes more of the tooth so the restoration has a stable foundation and a clean margin. We also use it to reach decay that has crept below the gum. In these cases the procedure is what makes saving the tooth possible.
Cosmetic Reasons
For a smile that looks gummy or for teeth that appear short, crown lengthening brings the gumline up to reveal more enamel and better proportions. This overlaps with gummy smile treatment, and the two are often discussed together when excess gum is the main concern. Some patients combine it with dental veneers to refine the final shape.
Your Dental Team in West Tennessee
Crown lengthening sits at the intersection of gum health and restorative dentistry, so it helps to have a team that handles both. Our doctors evaluate the tooth, the gum, and the bone together, then plan the procedure so the result supports whatever restoration or cosmetic goal follows. Because we also place the crowns and veneers, the steps stay coordinated from start to finish.
Premier Dental Center has served Bells, Jackson, Milan, and Lexington since 1979, and that experience shows in the planning, where getting the gum and bone levels right the first time is what protects the long-term result. More about our doctors under About Us.
What to Expect During Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening is an in-office procedure, and knowing the steps ahead of time takes most of the worry out of it.
Planning the Procedure
We begin with an exam and imaging at whichever of our four West Tennessee offices is convenient for you, mapping exactly how much gum and bone to adjust around the tooth or teeth involved. If a restoration is coming next, we coordinate the timing so your tooth has healed enough before the crown goes on.
The Procedure
We numb the area, then carefully reshape the gum and, where needed, a small amount of bone to expose the right amount of tooth. Depending on the case we may use a soft tissue laser or traditional instruments, and we will tell you which approach suits your situation and why.
Healing and Next Steps
Recovery usually involves some tenderness and swelling that settle within a week or two, with simple aftercare to keep the area clean. When crown lengthening is done for a restoration, we allow the gums to settle before placing the final crown, so the margin sits exactly where it should.
Benefits of Crown Lengthening
The biggest benefit depends on why you needed it. On the restorative side, crown lengthening can be the difference between saving a tooth and losing it, because it gives a crown or filling enough healthy structure to bond to. That often means keeping a natural tooth you might otherwise have had to replace.
On the cosmetic side, the payoff is a more balanced smile with teeth that look their proper length. There are practical wins too: a well-shaped gumline is easier to keep clean around a restoration, which supports the health of the tooth over time. And because the change to the gum and bone is stable, the result holds rather than gradually reversing.
Why Choose Our Team for Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening only pays off if the gum and bone levels are planned correctly and the follow-up restoration fits the new contour. Our doctors handle both halves, the lengthening and the crown or veneer that follows, so nothing gets lost in a handoff between offices.
We are also clear about when crown lengthening is and is not the right tool. If your goal is purely cosmetic and only soft tissue needs adjusting, we will recommend the simpler gum procedure rather than reshape bone you do not need touched. That kind of judgment comes from decades of restorative and cosmetic work across West Tennessee since 1979.
Crown Lengthening Cost and Financing
Cost depends on how many teeth are involved and whether the procedure is restorative or cosmetic, and we will give you a clear estimate before treatment starts. A single tooth prepared for a crown is a smaller undertaking than reshaping several teeth for a smile improvement.
When crown lengthening is medically necessary to restore a tooth, dental insurance often covers part of it; when it is purely cosmetic, coverage is less likely. We will help you understand which category your case falls into, and you can review payment options through our insurance and financing options. Call 731-300-3000 for a personalized estimate and a benefits check.
Schedule Your Crown Lengthening Consultation
Whether your goal is saving a tooth or evening out your smile, a consultation is the place to start. Call Premier Dental Center at 731-300-3000 or schedule an appointment to get started. Our Jackson office is at 80 Exeter Rd, Jackson, TN 38305. We also care for patients in Bells, Milan, and Lexington, TN. Have questions first? You can get in touch before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is crown lengthening painful?
The procedure is done with the area fully numbed, so you should not feel it. Afterward, expect mild to moderate tenderness for a few days as the gum heals, which most patients manage with over-the-counter relief. Because bone is sometimes reshaped, recovery is a bit more involved than simple gum contouring.
How long does crown lengthening take to heal?
The gum surface feels much better within a week or two, but when a crown is going on top, we usually wait several weeks for the tissue to fully stabilize before placing it. That patience is what keeps the crown margin in the right spot long term, so we do not rush this step.
Which should I have, crown lengthening or gum contouring?
It comes down to one thing we measure at your visit: whether the bone, not just the gum, is sitting too high around the tooth. If only gum is in the way, gum contouring is the lighter option. If the bone needs to move to get a lasting, healthy result, crown lengthening is the right call, and we will show you why on your own images.
Why do I need crown lengthening before a crown?
When a tooth is broken or decayed close to or below the gumline, there is not enough exposed structure for a crown to grip safely. Lengthening uncovers more tooth so the crown has a stable margin and does not irritate the gum. Skipping it would risk a crown that fits poorly and fails early.
Will my gums look natural afterward?
Yes. The aim is a gumline that looks like it was always meant to be there, in proportion with the neighboring teeth. We plan the contour around your existing smile, and once healing is complete most people cannot tell where any work was done.
Can crown lengthening fix a gummy smile?
Often, yes, when the gummy look comes from gums and bone covering too much tooth. It overlaps directly with gummy smile treatment, and we choose between crown lengthening and simpler contouring based on whether bone needs adjusting. If your gummy smile is caused by a hyperactive lip, neither gum procedure is the fix.
Does insurance cover crown lengthening?
The deciding factor is the reason for treatment. Done to restore a tooth, it carries a procedure code insurers often recognize, so part of it may be covered; done purely to improve a smile, it is treated as elective and usually is not. Because the same procedure can fall either way, our front desk verifies your benefits in advance so you know your share before you commit.
Why choose Premier Dental Center for crown lengthening in Jackson, TN?
Because we plan the lengthening and the restoration that follows as one connected process, including any smile makeover goals, rather than splitting your care between offices. You also get honesty about when a simpler gum procedure would serve you better. Premier Dental Center has served Jackson, Bells, Milan, and Lexington since 1979. |
