Crown lengthening is minor gum surgery that exposes more of a tooth by moving the gum margin, and usually a little of the underlying bone, towards the root. It is done for functional reasons, so that a crown has enough sound tooth to grip, or for appearance, to correct short-looking teeth and a gummy smile.
It creates a stable gum position that respects the natural 2 to 3 mm attachment zone between bone and gum edge. Its limit is the root: removing too much bone weakens support and can expose the area where roots divide.
What Crown Lengthening Surgery involves
After local anaesthetic, the periodontist marks the planned gum line, often using a guide made from a digital smile design or wax-up. Incisions are made and a small gum flap is lifted. Bone around the tooth is reshaped with fine burs and hand chisels until there is about 3 mm between the bone crest and the future crown margin or gum edge. The root surface is smoothed, and the flap is repositioned lower and stitched. When only excess gum is present and the bone level is already correct, a simple gingivectomy with scalpel or laser is enough.
Who is a good candidate for Crown Lengthening Surgery?
Your dentist will measure gum depth and bone levels with a probe and X-rays before suggesting it.
- A tooth broken or decayed below the gum line that would otherwise be impossible to crown
- Short clinical crowns that will not retain a restoration
- A gummy smile caused by gums that did not recede normally after eruption (altered passive eruption)
- Uneven gum margins before veneers or crowns on front teeth
It is usually not the right choice if:
- A gummy smile caused by a long upper jaw or a very mobile lip, which needs different treatment
- Teeth with short roots or poor bone support
- Fractures that extend too deep, where extraction and an implant are more predictable
- Uncontrolled gum disease, diabetes or heavy smoking
Technique options
- Gingivectomy: Removes gum only, by scalpel, electrosurgery or laser. Suitable when bone is already at the right level.
- Apically positioned flap with bone recontouring: The standard method when bone must be reduced.
- Aesthetic crown lengthening: Performed across the 6 to 10 upper front teeth with a surgical guide for symmetry.
- Orthodontic extrusion: Pulls a single tooth outwards as an alternative to removing bone next to healthy neighbours.
What happens during your treatment
It takes 30 to 60 minutes for one tooth and up to 2 hours for a full smile line, under local anaesthetic. You feel pressure and vibration but not sharp pain. Sedation is available for anxious patients.
Preparing for your trip
Plan for 3 to 5 days for surgery; second trip for final crowns in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.
- Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
- Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
- Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
- Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly
Recovery and results
Expect soreness and mild swelling for 3 to 5 days, controlled with ordinary painkillers and a chlorhexidine rinse. Stitches come out after 7 to 14 days. Eat soft food and avoid brushing the area for the first week. Gums take about 6 to 8 weeks to mature on back teeth and 3 to 6 months at the front before final crowns or veneers should be fitted.
- Back to everyday activity: 2 to 3 days
- When results show: Gum line visible at once; final position at 2 to 6 months
- How long they last: Permanent if bone was correctly contoured
Safety, risks and revision policy
Problems are mostly related to healing and to the final gum position.
- Sensitivity to cold from exposed root surface
- Gum regrowth if too little bone was removed
- Dark triangular gaps between teeth
- Uneven gum line needing a touch-up
- Bleeding or infection in the first days
- Slight loosening of the tooth, usually temporary
Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.
Cost of Crown Lengthening Surgery in Türkiye
Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for Crown Lengthening Surgery, because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:
- Number of teeth treated
- Gum-only surgery versus bone recontouring
- Use of a digitally made surgical guide
- Temporary crowns during healing
- The final restorations, which are charged separately
Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can the final veneers not be fitted the same week?
The gum margin keeps moving slightly as it heals. Fitting permanent porcelain too early risks exposed margins a few months later.
Is laser better than a scalpel?
A laser is comfortable for trimming gum only. It cannot reshape bone safely without lifting a flap, so it does not suit every case.
Does it hurt afterwards?
Most people manage with paracetamol or ibuprofen for two to three days.