Crown lengthening carefully recontours gum tissue (and sometimes bone) to reveal more of the tooth underneath. It can create the room needed to restore a tooth broken near the gumline, or bring balance to a smile that shows too much gum when you grin.
Crown Lengthening at a glance
- Where
- New York: 630 5th Avenue, Suite 1815, New York, NY 10111Roslyn: 1044 Northern Blvd., Suite 106, Roslyn, NY 11576
- Who treats you
- New York: Dr. Evelyn Spencer (Board-Certified Periodontist), Dr. Noor Mukhtar (Periodontist), and Dr. Nicholas Arroyo (Periodontist)Roslyn: Dr. Noor Mukhtar (Periodontist) and Dr. Nicholas Arroyo (Periodontist)
- Insurance
- Many major PPO insurance plans accepted, including UnitedHealthcare, MetLife, Delta Dental, Aetna, United Concordia Dental, and Guardian. See every plan
- Payment plans
- Monthly payments through Cherry, CareCredit, Alphaeon, and Proceed Finance. No insurance? Our in-house membership plan lowers the cost of care.
- How to book
- Book online, or call New York (212) 969-9490 or Roslyn (516) 625-0088.
What crown lengthening is
Crown lengthening is a minor periodontal procedure that reshapes the gum tissue, and sometimes a small amount of the underlying bone, around one tooth or several. The "crown" here is the visible part of your natural tooth, not a dental cap. The procedure simply makes more of that tooth visible above the gumline.
Two reasons it is done
To save a tooth. When a tooth has broken or decayed close to or below the gumline, there is not enough sound tooth for a filling or a dental crown to grip. Lengthening exposes healthy tooth structure so the restoration can be sealed properly and last, instead of the tooth being extracted. This is planned together with the dentist who will restore the tooth.
To balance a smile. Some people show more gum than tooth when they smile, or have an uneven gumline that makes teeth look short. Recontouring the gum reveals the full tooth and brings the smile into proportion. It is often done before veneers or as part of a smile makeover.
What to expect
The area is numbed with local anesthetic. A single tooth takes under an hour; several teeth take longer. The gum is gently lifted, the tissue and any excess bone are reshaped, and the gum is repositioned and stitched at its new level. If the tooth is being crowned, a temporary crown may be fitted the same day. Sedation is available if you would prefer to be more relaxed.
Healing
Soft tissue heals within one to two weeks. Cosmetic results are visible right away and refine over the following weeks. When lengthening is done to restore a broken tooth, we wait several weeks for the gum to settle at its new level before taking the final impression for the crown, so the edge of the crown sits exactly where the gum will stay.
Aftercare
Eat soft foods for a few days, keep the area clean with the rinse we provide rather than a brush until we say otherwise, and use over-the-counter pain relief as needed. Stitches are removed or dissolve within about two weeks, and we check the site at a follow-up visit.
Cost and insurance
When crown lengthening is needed to restore a tooth, dental plans often cover part of the cost. Purely cosmetic lengthening is usually not covered. You will have a written estimate before treatment begins. See insurance and financing.
Why patients choose it
- Enables restoration of broken teeth
- Evens out a gummy smile
- Improves gum symmetry
- Quick recovery
Crown Lengthening at our New York office
In Midtown Manhattan, crown lengthening is performed at 630 5th Avenue, Suite 1815, by the ToothDocs periodontal team. Dr. Nicholas Arroyo's training at UCSF included crown lengthening procedures specifically, and Dr. Evelyn Spencer and Dr. Noor Mukhtar bring the same specialist care to surgical gum reshaping. The New York office is also where Dr. Steven Kauftheil, our founder and prosthodontist, plans crowns, veneers and full smile makeovers, so a case that needs both the gum procedure and the restoration is handled under one roof. Call (212) 969-9490 or book online and choose New York.
Your Crown Lengthening team in New York
Crown Lengthening at our Roslyn office
Crown lengthening is offered at our Roslyn office, 1044 Northern Blvd., Suite 106, for patients from Roslyn, Manhasset, Port Washington and across the North Shore. Most often it is the step that saves a tooth broken near the gumline, and the advantage of having it done here is coordination: the dentist restoring your tooth and the procedure that makes the restoration possible are planned in the same office, on one timeline, close to home. If you have a broken tooth, do not wait: the sooner the tooth is assessed, the more options there are for keeping it. Call (516) 625-0088 or request an appointment and choose Roslyn.
Your Crown Lengthening team in Roslyn
Frequently asked
Why is crown lengthening done?+
It exposes more of a tooth, either to restore a tooth that's broken near the gumline, or to even out a 'gummy' smile for better balance.
What is recovery like?+
Most people return to normal activities quickly. We share simple aftercare tips to keep the area clean while the gums heal.
Is crown lengthening the same as a gum lift?+
A gum lift, or gingivectomy, removes only gum tissue. Crown lengthening can also reshape a small amount of the bone beneath it, which is what makes the result stable. Your periodontist will tell you which your case needs.
How long after crown lengthening can I get my crown?+
For a cosmetic case the results are visible immediately. When the procedure is done to restore a broken tooth, we wait several weeks for the gum to settle at its new level before the final impression, so the crown edge sits where the gum will stay.
Will crown lengthening make my teeth sensitive?+
Some sensitivity to hot and cold is common for a few weeks while the newly exposed tooth surface adjusts. It usually fades on its own, and a desensitising toothpaste helps in the meantime.
Where can I get Crown Lengthening near New York?+
ToothDocs offers Crown Lengthening at our New York office: 630 5th Avenue, Suite 1815, New York, NY 10111. Call (212) 969-9490 or request an appointment online to get started.
Where can I get Crown Lengthening near Roslyn?+
ToothDocs offers Crown Lengthening at our Roslyn office: 1044 Northern Blvd., Suite 106, Roslyn, NY 11576. Call (516) 625-0088 or request an appointment online to get started.