When there isn't enough healthy tooth structure above the gumline to support a crown, filling, or bridge, functional crown lengthening exposes the tooth your dentist needs to work with. Our board-certified periodontists perform this procedure daily for patients referred by general dentists throughout Los Angeles.
Every dental crown, filling, or bridge needs a certain amount of solid, healthy tooth structure above the gumline to attach to securely. When a tooth has broken down from decay, fractured below the gumline, or was covered by a short crown placed years ago, there may simply not be enough of the tooth left exposed for a new restoration to seat properly.
Crown lengthening is a periodontal procedure that carefully removes and reshapes a small amount of gum tissue, and sometimes a small amount of the underlying bone, to reveal more of the natural tooth. This gives your restorative dentist the structure needed to place a crown that fits well, seals properly, and holds up over time.
This is different from cosmetic crown lengthening, which is done purely to change how a smile looks. If your goal is a more proportional smile rather than preparing a tooth for a restoration, visit our gummy smile crown lengthening page instead. Functional crown lengthening is also closely related to treating periodontal disease, since active gum disease is treated and controlled before any restorative surgery is planned.
Most functional crown lengthening procedures are completed in a single visit, often coordinated closely with your referring dentist's restorative timeline.
We review your dentist's referral, take digital imaging, and measure how much tooth structure needs to be exposed to properly support your restoration.
The area is thoroughly numbed so you are comfortable throughout. Sedation options are available for anxious patients if needed.
A small amount of gum tissue, and occasionally supporting bone, is precisely removed to expose sound tooth structure above the gumline.
The site is sutured and allowed to heal before your general dentist takes final impressions and places the permanent crown or restoration.
Dr. Rana Shahi, Dr. Priscilla Young, and Dr. Ivan Yi are all board-certified periodontal specialists with advanced surgical training beyond general dentistry.
We measure and respect the natural biologic width around every tooth, so the amount of tissue removed is exactly what's needed, no more and no less.
We work directly with your referring general dentist to time healing, impressions, and final restoration placement so your case moves forward without delay.
Most functional crown lengthening cases involve one or two teeth and are completed comfortably in a single appointment at our Wilshire Blvd office.
Our periodontists are frequently referred to by general dentists throughout Los Angeles for restorative crown lengthening cases that require surgical precision.
Functional crown lengthening is typically recommended by your general dentist before a restorative procedure. You may be a candidate if:
Mild soreness and swelling are normal for the first several days. We provide detailed post-operative instructions, and over-the-counter or prescribed medication typically keeps patients comfortable while the gum tissue begins to heal.
Gum and bone tissue need time to stabilize before a permanent crown or bridge is placed, generally a few weeks to a few months depending on how much tissue was reshaped. We coordinate directly with your dentist so final impressions are taken once the site is ready.
Whether you were referred by your dentist or have questions about a tooth that needs a crown, our specialists are here to help. We welcome patients from throughout Los Angeles and accept most major insurance plans.
If too little of your tooth is visible above the gumline, a crown or filling has nothing solid to grip onto and won't seal properly. Your dentist refers these cases to us so we can expose enough healthy tooth structure first, giving the final restoration a stable, well-fitting foundation.
Biologic width is the natural space the gum and bone need to stay healthy around every tooth. If a crown margin is placed too close to the bone, it can irritate the tissue and cause chronic inflammation. Crown lengthening restores that healthy space before a new restoration is placed.
The procedure itself is performed under local anesthesia, so you shouldn't feel pain during treatment. Afterward, most patients experience mild soreness for a few days that is well managed with the medication we recommend.
The gum tissue needs time to heal and stabilize before final impressions are taken, which can range from several weeks to a few months depending on how much tissue and bone were reshaped. We coordinate directly with your general dentist so nothing is rushed.
Functional crown lengthening focuses on the single tooth being restored, so the change is usually subtle and specific to that area rather than a full smile redesign. If your goal is reshaping the gumline across multiple front teeth for cosmetic reasons, our gummy smile crown lengthening procedure is a better fit.
Yes. Unlike cosmetic gum recontouring, which usually addresses several front teeth at once for a balanced look, functional crown lengthening is very often performed on just one tooth that needs to be restored.
Placing a crown without enough exposed tooth structure often leads to a poor seal, an unstable fit, or ongoing gum irritation that can shorten the life of the restoration. Addressing the tooth structure first gives the final crown a much better long-term outcome.
Because it is medically necessary to support a restoration, functional crown lengthening is often at least partially covered by dental insurance. Our team will help verify your benefits and explain your coverage before treatment.
We'll confirm your visit within one business day.
