Overview
Crown lengthening is a minor surgical procedure that removes excess gum tissue — and sometimes a small amount of underlying bone — to expose more of the natural tooth. It's performed for one of two reasons: preparing a tooth for a crown or filling when there isn't enough exposed structure to restore, or reshaping a "gummy smile" to improve the balance of a smile. Recovery typically involves several days of swelling and tenderness, with the final result settling in over the following weeks.
Crown lengthening is sometimes confused with gingivectomy, a related but narrower procedure that removes only gum tissue, without touching the underlying bone. Crown lengthening is the broader term — it covers gum reshaping alone when that's sufficient, and gum-plus-bone reshaping when more exposure is needed, depending on what the individual case requires.
Standard preparation — mention any medications you're taking, and arrange a ride home if sedation is used.
As with any gum surgery, risks include infection, sensitivity, or — in rare cases — more gum recession than intended. These are uncommon, and the team will go over anything specific to your case beforehand.
Your exact cost, including how many teeth are involved, is confirmed in a written estimate at consultation.
Dr. Ahmed Khaled, Surgery & Implants, performs the surgical procedure itself. For cosmetic cases, he works together with our cosmetic dentistry team.
Dr. Ahmed Khaled brings advanced surgical training to Vienna Dental Clinic, where he leads Oral Surgery. That specialized training informs the full range of surgical and restorative care he provides at the clinic, from routine and surgical extractions through wisdom tooth removal, dental implants, and periodontal procedures like crown lengthening and gum depigmentation.
Crown lengthening removes excess gum tissue — and sometimes a small amount of underlying bone — to expose more of the tooth's surface. It's done for one of two distinct reasons, which affects why someone would be looking at this page at all.
The procedure itself is done under anesthesia, so you shouldn't feel pain during it. Some soreness and sensitivity afterward is normal and manageable.
The gum tissue needs to heal and stabilize first — this typically takes several weeks, and the exact timeline will be confirmed by the team based on your healing.
Generally yes, though this is worth confirming directly for your specific case at consultation.
No — bone is only reshaped when there isn't enough tooth structure exposed with gum reshaping alone. Some cases only need the gum tissue addressed; your team determines this based on your specific situation.
Most swelling and tenderness eases within the first week, though the area can continue to settle for several weeks after that as healing completes.
Soft foods are recommended for the first few days while the area heals, gradually returning to your normal diet as swelling and tenderness ease. Ask your doctor for your specific case.
Some difference is visible immediately, but the final appearance takes shape gradually as swelling goes down over the following weeks — worth waiting before judging the final result.
This depends on your individual plan and whether the procedure is being done for functional or cosmetic reasons — see Insurance & Financing for the options the clinic offers.
"Gum contouring" is often used as a general term that can include gingivectomy — gum-tissue-only reshaping — while crown lengthening specifically can also involve bone reshaping when more tooth exposure is needed. See Crown Lengthening vs. Gingivectomy above for more on this distinction.