Transform the Balance of Your Smile with Crown Lengthening Near You
Sometimes the smallest adjustments can make a powerful difference in how your smile looks and feels. When excess gum tissue covers too much of the tooth surface or when a tooth needs additional structure exposed for a restoration, crown lengthening can help reveal a healthier, more balanced smile. At Langley Perio & Implants, our Langley periodontists provide crown lengthening procedures that support oral health and smile aesthetics.
Whether you’re preparing for a dental crown or hoping to address a “gummy” smile, our team focuses on precise treatment planning and compassionate care. Patients from Langley, Surrey, Aldergrove, and Abbotsford visit our practice for advanced periodontal care delivered in a calm and supportive environment. Call (604) 227-1869 to schedule a consultation.
What Sets Our Local Periodontal Office Apart?
At Langley Perio and Implants, we believe that a healthy smile is the cornerstone of overall well-being. Our practice, situated in the heart of Langley, BC, is led by Dr. Joanie Faucher and Dr. Aleem Manji, both of whom are Board Certified Specialists in Periodontics. This distinction means they have completed years of additional surgical training beyond dental school, focusing specifically on the soft tissues and bone structures that support your teeth.
What truly distinguishes our care is the marriage of advanced clinical precision with a warm, human touch. We recognize that many patients feel hesitant about periodontal surgery. To address this, we have created a space where technology—such as 3D CBCT imaging and laser-assisted therapy—works in tandem with compassionate communication.
What is Crown Lengthening Surgery?
Crown lengthening surgery reshapes gum tissue to expose more of a tooth’s natural surface. In some situations, small adjustments to the underlying bone are performed to create a stable and healthy gumline.
The treatment may be recommended for restorative or cosmetic reasons. When a tooth has damage or decay near the gumline, crown lengthening creates space for a dental crown or filling. In cosmetic situations, it can improve the appearance of a “gummy smile” by revealing more of the natural tooth.
What Can a Crown Lengthening Procedure Fix?
Crown lengthening can address several dental concerns that affect both oral health and smile aesthetics.
Common situations where this procedure may help include:
- Teeth that appear short due to excess gum tissue
- Decay or damage below the gumline
- Teeth that need preparation for crowns or restorations
- Uneven gumlines that affect smile symmetry
- Gum tissue that makes oral hygiene difficult
By adjusting the gumline, the procedure allows more of the tooth surface to be visible and accessible for treatment and cleaning. To learn if this periodontal procedure may beenfit you, call our office at (604) 227-1869 today.
Benefits of Crown Lengthening Treatment
The advantages of this procedure extend to both your appearance and your dental longevity:
- Restorative Foundation: It allows for the successful placement of crowns or bridges on teeth that would otherwise be unrestorable.
- Enhanced Symmetry: It creates an even, balanced gumline across the “smile zone.”
- Healthier Gums: Reducing excess tissue makes it easier to clean the teeth, lowering the risk of periodontal disease.
- Durability: Restorations placed on a solid foundation provided by crown lengthening are far less likely to fail or cause chronic inflammation.
Candidacy for Crown Lengthening Procedures
Functional Candidacy
If you have a tooth that is broken or decayed very close to the bone, your general dentist may not have enough surface area to attach a crown securely. In these cases, crown lengthening is necessary to expose more of the natural tooth, providing a stable foundation for a long-lasting restoration.
Aesthetic Candidacy
Some individuals feel their teeth look too small or “boxy,” often caused by a “gummy smile” where the gum tissue extends too far down the tooth. If you are unhappy with the proportions of your smile, you may be a candidate for an aesthetic gum lift.
During your visit to our Langley, BC, office, our team will perform a thorough exam to determine if your bone levels and gum health are suitable for the procedure.
How Does Crown Lengthening Work?
Step 1: Digital Consultation and Mapping
Before any treatment begins, our dentists use advanced imaging to evaluate the root structure and bone levels. This allows us to map out the exact amount of tissue that needs to be adjusted to meet your functional or aesthetic goals.
Step 2: Ensuring Your Comfort
Your comfort is a primary concern. We apply local anesthesia to thoroughly numb the area. For patients visiting from Surrey, Abbotsford, or Maple Ridge who may feel anxious, we offer various sedation options to help you feel completely at ease throughout the visit.
Step 3: Precise Reshaping
Dr. Faucher or Dr. Manji will make small, delicate incisions to gently move the gum tissue away from the teeth. This provides access to the underlying bone. Depending on your needs:
- For functional cases: We remove a small amount of bone to ensure there is enough tooth surface to support a new crown without causing inflammation.
- For aesthetic cases: We focus on sculpting the gumline to reveal more of your natural tooth, creating a symmetrical and “lifted” appearance.
Step 4: Closing and Healing
Once the desired tooth length is achieved, the gums are repositioned and secured with small sutures. A protective dressing may be applied. The entire procedure usually takes about 60 to 90 minutes. Over the following weeks, your gums will heal and settle into their new, healthy position, leaving you ready for the next phase of your dental journey.
Aftercare for Crown Lengthening Surgery
The success of your procedure depends heavily on the healing phase. Following your treatment in Langley, BC, Dr. Faucher and Dr. Manji provide a comprehensive aftercare plan to help you recover quickly and comfortably.
- The First 24 Hours: Rest is essential. Use an ice pack on the outside of your face to minimize swelling and stick to a cold, liquid diet.
- Dietary Adjustments: For the first week, avoid spicy, crunchy, or very hot foods that could irritate the surgical site. Soft foods like yogurt, pasta, and mashed potatoes are ideal.
- Oral Hygiene: While you must keep your mouth clean to prevent infection, avoid brushing the surgical area directly until the doctors give you the green light. We may provide a specialized antimicrobial rinse to use instead.
- Follow-Up: A follow-up appointment will be scheduled at our office to monitor your progress and remove sutures if they are not the dissolvable type.
Cost of Crown Lengthening Near You
Understanding the investment required for your oral health is important. In the Langley, BC area, the cost of crown lengthening can vary based on the specific requirements of your smile. Because every mouth is unique, Dr. Joanie Faucher and Dr. Aleem Manji provide transparent, individualized estimates during your consultation.
Factors That Influence the Cost
Several variables play a role in determining the final price of the procedure:
- Number of Teeth: Treating a single tooth for a restoration is generally less expensive than a full-arch aesthetic gum lift.
- Complexity: If the procedure requires bone reshaping in addition to gum tissue adjustment, the technical requirements increase.
- Sedation Options: The type of sedation chosen for your comfort will impact the total cost.
- Insurance Coverage: Many dental plans cover functional crown lengthening if it is required for a restorative crown. Aesthetic procedures are often considered elective.
Typical Investment in British Columbia
In British Columbia, periodontal surgical fees are often guided by the provincial fee guide. For a single-tooth functional procedure, costs typically range from $400 to $1,000. More extensive aesthetic reshaping involving multiple teeth may range from $1,500 to $3,000 or more.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, crown lengthening isn’t painful. Our team uses local anesthetics to numb the area completely during the procedure. Most patients describe the sensation as a feeling of pressure rather than pain. After the treatment, any discomfort can typically be managed with over-the-counter pain relief or prescribed medication provided by our doctors.
The length of the appointment depends on how many teeth are being treated. Generally, the procedure takes between 60 and 90 minutes.
Yes, you will notice that your teeth look longer and your gumline looks different right away. However, the final “settled” look of the gums will be more apparent after the initial healing phase of about six to eight weeks.
Functional crown lengthening is often covered by dental insurance plans as it is a necessary step for a restorative procedure. Aesthetic crown lengthening is usually considered elective. Our office team is happy to help you navigate your insurance benefits and provide a clear estimate of costs.
Take the First Step Toward Your Best Smile
You deserve a smile that makes you feel proud and a mouth that feels healthy and strong. If you have been told you need a crown but don’t have enough tooth structure, or if you are tired of hiding your “gummy” smile, we are here to help.
Let us guide you through a comfortable, professional experience that prioritizes your well-being above all else. Call our team at (604) 227-1869 to schedule your consultation at our Langley, BC, dental office.