Some people find their smile has just too much gum and not enough tooth. When gums are extended far down on the surfaces of the teeth, less tooth enamel shows, so the teeth seem short. There is not necessarily anything wrong with this, from a health standpoint, but from an aesthetic point of view, it is good to know that an improvement can be made.
Because the crown of the tooth ends up longer, this type of cosmetic dentistry procedure is often called “crown lengthening.” Some other terms are “gum lifting” and “gum sculpting.” All these phrases refer to the same thing.
What Causes Uneven Gums?
Laser Gum Contouring for a Gummy Smile
What to Expect During Gum Contouring Surgery
Gum Contouring Recovery Process
- When taking an over-the-counter pain reliever,
avoid aspirin, which may cause bleeding. - Stay away from spicy or excessively hot foods,
as well as anything with seeds. - For the first couple of days, eat only soft
foods, like cottage cheese, eggs, ice cream, pasta, and yogurt. - If your dentist gave you specific directions
for brushing your teeth, make sure to follow them for the prescribed
length of time. - Should there be bleeding or swelling, contact
your dentist immediately.
Laser Gum Contouring FAQs
Gum contouring may be appropriate if excess or uneven gum tissue makes your teeth appear short, small, or asymmetrical. Before recommending treatment, your dentist will evaluate your gums, teeth, and overall oral health. If the appearance of your gumline is related to gum disease, recession, or another dental concern, that condition may need to be addressed before cosmetic gum contouring.
The amount of tissue that can safely be removed varies from person to person. Your dentist must maintain enough healthy gum tissue to protect and support your teeth while creating a more balanced gumline. In some cases, reshaping the gum tissue alone provides the desired improvement. Other patients may require crown lengthening that involves additional treatment around the tooth.
A local or topical anesthetic can be used to keep you comfortable during gum contouring. Because laser technology precisely targets excess tissue, the procedure is generally well tolerated. You may experience some tenderness, sensitivity, or swelling afterward as your gums heal, but your dentist will provide instructions for managing discomfort during recovery.
Treatment time depends on how many teeth are being addressed and how extensively the gumline needs to be reshaped. Minor adjustments involving only a few teeth can often be completed relatively quickly, while more extensive gum reshaping may take longer. Your dentist can give you a more specific treatment estimate after evaluating your smile.
In many cases, the results can be long-lasting because excess gum tissue has been removed and the gumline has been reshaped. However, the stability of your results may depend on your oral health and the underlying cause of your original gumline. Maintaining healthy gums through regular brushing, flossing, professional cleanings, and dental examinations remains important after treatment.
You will notice a difference in your gumline immediately after the procedure, although swelling and tenderness may temporarily affect its appearance. As the gums heal over the following days and weeks, the final shape of your gumline becomes easier to appreciate.
Soft, mild foods are generally recommended during the first few days after treatment while the gums are sensitive. Foods such as eggs, yogurt, pasta, and other options that require minimal chewing can make recovery more comfortable. Avoid spicy foods, very hot foods, seeds, and anything that may irritate the treated gum tissue until your dentist says you can return to your normal diet.
Yes. Removing excess gum tissue exposes more of the visible tooth surface, which can make teeth that previously appeared short or small look longer and more proportionate. Gum contouring does not actually increase the size of your teeth. Instead, it changes the balance between the amount of tooth and gum tissue visible when you smile.
Gum contouring can be particularly helpful when some teeth have more visible gum tissue than others. Carefully reshaping selected areas can create a smoother, more symmetrical gumline and improve your smile’s proportions. Your dentist will plan the new gumline around your individual teeth rather than simply removing the same amount of tissue from every area.
Yes. Gum contouring may be incorporated into a broader cosmetic dentistry plan when multiple aspects of the smile are being addressed. For example, reshaping an uneven gumline before placing veneers can help establish better proportions for the final restorations. Teeth whitening may also be performed as part of a smile makeover, depending on your treatment goals and the recommended sequence of procedures.
The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but the procedures can serve different purposes. Cosmetic gum contouring primarily reshapes excess gum tissue to improve the appearance of the smile. Crown lengthening may involve removing or repositioning gum tissue and, in some cases, modifying the underlying bone to expose more of the tooth. Your dentist can determine which approach is appropriate based on your anatomy and treatment goals.
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Laser Gum Contouring FAQs
Gum contouring may be appropriate if excess or uneven gum tissue makes your teeth appear short, small, or asymmetrical. Before recommending treatment, your dentist will evaluate your gums, teeth, and overall oral health. If the appearance of your gumline is related to gum disease, recession, or another dental concern, that condition may need to be addressed before cosmetic gum contouring.
The amount of tissue that can safely be removed varies from person to person. Your dentist must maintain enough healthy gum tissue to protect and support your teeth while creating a more balanced gumline. In some cases, reshaping the gum tissue alone provides the desired improvement. Other patients may require crown lengthening that involves additional treatment around the tooth.
A local or topical anesthetic can be used to keep you comfortable during gum contouring. Because laser technology precisely targets excess tissue, the procedure is generally well tolerated. You may experience some tenderness, sensitivity, or swelling afterward as your gums heal, but your dentist will provide instructions for managing discomfort during recovery.
Treatment time depends on how many teeth are being addressed and how extensively the gumline needs to be reshaped. Minor adjustments involving only a few teeth can often be completed relatively quickly, while more extensive gum reshaping may take longer. Your dentist can give you a more specific treatment estimate after evaluating your smile.
In many cases, the results can be long-lasting because excess gum tissue has been removed and the gumline has been reshaped. However, the stability of your results may depend on your oral health and the underlying cause of your original gumline. Maintaining healthy gums through regular brushing, flossing, professional cleanings, and dental examinations remains important after treatment.
You will notice a difference in your gumline immediately after the procedure, although swelling and tenderness may temporarily affect its appearance. As the gums heal over the following days and weeks, the final shape of your gumline becomes easier to appreciate.
Soft, mild foods are generally recommended during the first few days after treatment while the gums are sensitive. Foods such as eggs, yogurt, pasta, and other options that require minimal chewing can make recovery more comfortable. Avoid spicy foods, very hot foods, seeds, and anything that may irritate the treated gum tissue until your dentist says you can return to your normal diet.
Yes. Removing excess gum tissue exposes more of the visible tooth surface, which can make teeth that previously appeared short or small look longer and more proportionate. Gum contouring does not actually increase the size of your teeth. Instead, it changes the balance between the amount of tooth and gum tissue visible when you smile.
Gum contouring can be particularly helpful when some teeth have more visible gum tissue than others. Carefully reshaping selected areas can create a smoother, more symmetrical gumline and improve your smile’s proportions. Your dentist will plan the new gumline around your individual teeth rather than simply removing the same amount of tissue from every area.
Yes. Gum contouring may be incorporated into a broader cosmetic dentistry plan when multiple aspects of the smile are being addressed. For example, reshaping an uneven gumline before placing veneers can help establish better proportions for the final restorations. Teeth whitening may also be performed as part of a smile makeover, depending on your treatment goals and the recommended sequence of procedures.
The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but the procedures can serve different purposes. Cosmetic gum contouring primarily reshapes excess gum tissue to improve the appearance of the smile. Crown lengthening may involve removing or repositioning gum tissue and, in some cases, modifying the underlying bone to expose more of the tooth. Your dentist can determine which approach is appropriate based on your anatomy and treatment goals.