Sometimes teeth look short not because they are, but because the gum sits low over them. Reshaping the gum line changes the proportion, but only once the gums underneath are genuinely healthy. Gum contouring reshapes the gum line with a laser or a scalpel to even out a smile that shows too much gum or teeth that look short, and it is sometimes done with a crown or veneer procedure, though the dentist first checks that bone level and gum health allow it safely.
What people want to change with gum contouring
- A smile that shows more gum than you would like
- Uneven gum heights across the front teeth
- Teeth that look short despite being a normal length
- Gum overgrowth, sometimes linked to medication
- Preparing the gum line before veneers or crowns
Approaches worth comparing
- Assessment of gum health and bone level first
- Reshaping with a soft-tissue laser or surgically
- Crown lengthening where bone must also be adjusted
- Treating gum disease before any cosmetic work
- Orthodontic movement where the tooth position is the real cause
What a cosmetic consultation involves
Ask specifically what's reversible.
Discuss the result you want
Just pick a category.
Common questions
Gum Contouring: questions people ask
Is gum contouring permanent?
Results are generally lasting where gum health is stable, though tissue can change over time. Where bone was also reshaped, the result tends to be more stable.
Why do I need gum treatment first?
Reshaping inflamed or diseased tissue gives an unstable result that changes as the inflammation resolves. Treating gum disease first is what makes the outcome predictable.
Could braces fix a gummy smile instead?
Sometimes. If the tooth position or jaw relationship is the underlying cause, moving teeth may address it more appropriately than reshaping gum. A proper assessment distinguishes the two.
What are the approaches to reshaping the gum line?
The team assesses gum health and bone level first. The gum can be reshaped with a soft-tissue laser or surgically. Crown lengthening is used where bone must also be adjusted. Gum disease is treated before any cosmetic work. Orthodontic movement helps where tooth position is the real cause. Understand the conservative option before the extensive one.
Who asks about gum contouring?
People with a smile that shows more gum than they like. People with uneven gum heights across the front teeth. People whose teeth look short despite being a normal length. People with gum overgrowth, sometimes linked to medication. Also anyone preparing the gum line before veneers or crowns.