Crown Lengthening in Turkey | Procedure, cost & dental clinics

What is crown lengthening?

Also known as coronal elongation, crown lengthening is a periodontal surgical procedure that exposes a larger portion of the tooth by removing excess gum tissue and sometimes a small amount of bone. The procedure increases the clinical height of the dental crown, i.e., the part of the tooth visible above the gum line.

This procedure is often performed for functional reasons:

• Facilitate the treatment of decay below the gum line.
• Restore a broken tooth at or below the gum line.
• Create sufficient space to fit a veneer or crown stably and durably.

It is also used for aesthetic purposes, notably to correct a "gummy smile" (excessive gum visibility when smiling) by harmoniously redefining the gum line.

However, crown lengthening is not always possible. If the tooth root is too short, it could weaken the tooth in the long term. This is why a thorough assessment by an experienced dentist is essential before making any decisions.

In Turkey, periodontology and dental surgery specialists offer precise, personalized diagnoses to determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure.

Do you need a medical opinion or a quote for crown lengthening in Turkey? Our experts are here to help.

Who can benefit from coronal elongation?

Coronal elongation is not a random surgical procedure. Like all dental procedures, it is based on a precise diagnosis, which is established through a thorough clinical examination and X-ray imaging. Only then can a dentist confirm if this treatment is right for you.

This procedure is primarily intended for patients with:

• Broken teeth partially or completely buried below the gum line.
• Deep caries that extend below the gum line or even into the bone.
• Excessive gum tissue that prevents the fitting of a prosthesis or impairs the smile's aesthetics.

Thanks to technological advances, coronal lengthening often makes tooth extraction unnecessary. This technique exposes more of the tooth, making it possible to fit a crown or prosthesis when very little tooth structure is visible.

Contraindications for surgical crown lengthening

Although crown lengthening is an effective solution in many cases, it is not always an option. This procedure may be contraindicated in certain clinical situations, particularly when it risks compromising the health or aesthetics of neighboring teeth.

The main contraindications to consider are as follows:

• Unitary or interproximal elongations in areas with high aesthetic impact, such as the incisors or canines. These can lead to the irreversible loss of gingival papillae, the small tips of gum tissue between the teeth. This greatly detracts from the harmony of the smile.
• Cases requiring major osteotomy (removal of supporting bone) on healthy neighboring teeth. Intervening on healthy teeth could unnecessarily weaken them.
• Roots that are too short: Once the gum and bone are removed to expose more of the tooth, a root that is too short will no longer provide sufficient stability, which compromises treatment durability.
• Teeth that are too dilapidated: When the remaining structure is insufficient for effective bracing, such as crown placement or reinforcement, elongation offers no real benefit, and extraction may be the only viable alternative.

Coronary lengthening process in Turkey

The procedure takes place in several stages. First, you will have an initial consultation with your dentist to discuss your needs and expectations. During this consultation, the dentist will evaluate your overall oral health.

Before the procedure, the dentist will administer a local anesthetic to ensure your comfort. X-rays or scans may also be taken to plan the procedure. Depending on your needs, a small amount of gum or bone around the tooth may be removed to expose more of the crown. This creates a solid foundation for the subsequent dental restoration.

Once the area is prepared, the dentist will take precise impressions of your teeth to fabricate the new crown. While waiting for the final crown, the dentist will place a temporary restoration to protect the exposed tooth. After an appropriate healing period, usually a few weeks, you'll return to the dentist for the permanent crown. It will be securely fixed to the treated tooth, ensuring a perfect fit and natural appearance.

Please note that this procedure may vary according to each patient's specific needs. Your dentist will explain the steps involved in your dental crown lengthening procedure in detail and answer any questions you have to ensure you fully understand the process.

Preparation and postoperative phase of coronal lengthening

This procedure involves reducing the gums to widen the visible part of the tooth. This is achieved by removing the upper part of the gum tissue to displace the gums and expose the tooth. Bone renovation may also be considered. A detailed preoperative clinical examination is crucial to assess the feasibility of the procedure and its aesthetic merits. This examination allows you to correctly determine the surgical space and evaluate the quality and extent of the gingiva. It's important to note that gingival thickness can vary significantly from person to person. The dentist evaluates this surgical space, which is the distance between the dental tissue and the highest bony vertex. Crown lengthening can be performed on small gums. However, this procedure is not suitable for smokers or individuals with severe gum inflammation. This procedure requires hygiene precautions and can only be performed in dental clinics. Complete healing typically takes 6–12 weeks for back teeth; for front teeth and esthetically important areas, healing can extend to 3–6 months due to soft tissue maturation requirements. Once fully healed, an artificial crown can be fitted to the tooth to replace the missing tooth. The availability of sufficient dental materials in Turkey ensures the successful performance of this procedure and the achievement of a very natural result.

What are the risks of crown lengthening?

As with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks and side effects of dental crown lengthening that you should be aware of before undergoing the procedure.

Possible complications include:

• A reaction to the local anesthetic (rare, but possible).
• Mild to moderate bleeding during or after the procedure.
• Temporary bruising or swelling of the gums or cheeks.
• There is a risk of infection if post-operative care is not properly followed.
• Increased tooth sensitivity, particularly to heat and cold.
• Inadvertent exposure of neighboring tooth structures.
• Exposure of the margins of existing restorations, which can affect aesthetics.

Treated teeth often appear longer after the procedure. While this change is usually desired for functional or aesthetic reasons, in some cases, particularly in people with larger teeth, it can alter the appearance of the smile in an unharmonious way.

To avoid this undesirable result, some Turkish dentists use aesthetic simulation or advanced digital imaging tools. These technologies allow you to visualize the final result before the procedure to ensure it aligns with your aesthetic expectations.