What is crown lengthening?

The American Academy of Periodontology defines crown lengthening as a procedure that reshapes the gum line to expose more of the tooth below it. A crown lengthening is typically performed for health or cosmetic reasons.

AAP mentions that dentists use crown lengthening to allow more of the tooth to be available for other necessary dental procedures such as crowns or bridges. Some people have too much gum covering their teeth, giving them a "gummy" smile. A crown lengthening is done for cosmetic reasons in these cases. The procedure can be performed on just one tooth or several teeth, as needed.