Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening can be used for aesthetic enhancement in the presence of excessive gingival display, often referred to as the ¿¿gummy smile¿¿. Gummy smile may be the result of several factors, such as gingival enlargement, altered or delayed passive eruption, insufficient clinical crown length, vertical maxillary excess, and a short upper lip. Osseous resection may pose a contraindication to crown-lengthening therapy when the periodontal stability of the treated dentition may be affected. In anterior areas where aesthetic considerations are highly significant, surgical crown lengthening alone may have an unacceptable result. In conclusion, crown lengthening surgery is a viable option for facilitating restorative therapy or improving aesthetic appearance. However, to plan a crown lengthening procedure, the whole periodontal condition of the patients and their hygiene habits should be evaluated.