---
title: "What Is Crown lengthening? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "Crown lengthening is a procedure that exposes more of a tooth by removing gum tissue and sometimes bone."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/crown-lengthening
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Procedures

# Crown lengthening

Crown lengthening is a procedure that exposes more of a tooth by removing gum tissue and sometimes bone. It helps a dentist repair a tooth that is too short or broken below the gumline.

Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure that exposes more tooth for restorative purposes by moving the gum margin and removing supporting bone. It involves contouring and reshaping the bone under your gums.

Your dentist may recommend crown lengthening when your tooth is too short to hold a crown, or when a cavity or filling sits below your gumline. A tooth that is broken at the gumline may also need it. Without enough tooth above the gum, a crown or filling may not stay in place.

See [dental crown](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-crown) and [gingivectomy](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gingivectomy). Your dentist can tell you whether the procedure fits your case after an exam.

## Related terms

-   [Gingivectomy](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gingivectomy)
-   [Gum contouring](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gum-contouring)
-   [Dental crown](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-crown)
-   [Anatomical crown](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/anatomical-crown)
-   [Alveolar bone](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/alveolar-bone)

## Sources

1.  [Cleveland Clinic: Gingivectomy: Procedure & Recovery](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24749-gingivectomy)
2.  [American Dental Association: Glossary of Dental Terms](https://www.ada.org/publications/cdt/glossary-dental-terms)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)