Crown Lengthening

 Some people have teeth that look too short due to the relationship between their teeth and gums.   A procedure called "Crown Lengthening" is often used to remove excess gum tissue and expose more of the crown of the tooth.   In fact, the gum line can be carefully sculpted to create just the right proportion between gum tissue and tooth surface – and the result is a better looking smile.  The picture on the left illustrates the presence of excess gum tissue. To see the results obtained with the Crown Lengthening procedure, move your mouse over the picture.


The two pictures show before and after photos of the Crown Lengthening procedure.

Connective Tissue Grafting

  Other patients may look older than their years because their teeth appear to be too long ("long in the tooth").   A procedure called "Connective Tissue Grafting" (Soft Tissue Grafting) is designed to cover exposed roots and make the teeth look more natural.  This procedure can also help prevent further gum recession (shrinkage) and protect the roots of the teeth from caries (tooth decay). Since the grafting tissue is taken from the palate, the number of teeth that can be covered during one procedure is limited. Occasionally donor tissue (Alloderm) is used as a substitute for your own tissue.  The picture on the left is an example of gum recession around the root of an otherwise healthy tooth.  To see the results after completion of the Connective Tissue Grafting procedure, move your mouse over the picture.


The two pictures show before and after photos of the Connective Tissue Grafting procedure.

Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Surgery

 A newer surgical technique that serves as a less invasive alternative to connective tissue grafting is called Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation. During this procedure, a small hole is created in the gum, the tissue is moved to more completely cover the tooth, and collagen is placed in the gums through the pinhole to stabilize the tissue. For select surgical candidates, this procedure offers less recovery time and less post-operative discomfort than other grafting techniques. It is often possible to treat multiple teeth or even an entire arch in one procedure since grafting tissue is not taken from the palate. For a visual demonstration of this procedure, please click on the video below.