Gum Contouring

Gum contouring is the careful, precise reshaping of gum tissue around one tooth or across the full smile zone. In most cases, that means removing a small amount of excess tissue to expose more of the natural tooth and even out the gum line. The procedure is sometimes called a gingivectomy when tissue is removed, and it is closely related to crown lengthening, a procedure we also perform when a tooth needs more structure exposed for a restoration rather than purely for appearance.

We approach contouring as a planning exercise first. Before any tissue is shaped, we look at how your lips move when you speak and smile, how the teeth are proportioned to each other, and whether the gums are healthy enough to be reshaped. If active gum disease is present, that gets treated first — with scaling and root planing, periodontal maintenance, or other periodontal care — because reshaping inflamed tissue doesn't produce a stable result. Our periodontal services also include gum grafting and periodontal regeneration, so if your concern turns out to be recession rather than excess tissue, we can address it from the other direction.

People come to us about their gum line for several distinct reasons. The most common is a "gummy" smile, where a significant band of tissue shows above the teeth. Reshaping here can let more enamel show and bring the teeth into better balance with the lips. Another frequent reason is asymmetry — a single tooth whose gum sits higher or lower than its neighbors, which is especially noticeable on the front six teeth.

Contouring also plays a supporting role in restorative and cosmetic work. When we're planning porcelain veneers, composite bonding, or crowns, the gum line determines where the restoration begins and how natural it looks. Adjusting the tissue beforehand gives the final result a cleaner margin. In other cases, a tooth has broken or decayed close to the gum line, and crown lengthening exposes enough healthy structure to hold a crown. Patients who have finished orthodontic treatment, including Invisalign and other clear aligners, sometimes find that straightening the teeth revealed an uneven gum line that was less obvious before. Finally, tissue that overgrows and traps plaque can be reshaped to make daily brushing and flossing more effective.

• Reasons patients ask us about gum contouring: a gummy smile, uneven gum height between neighboring teeth, teeth that look short, preparation for veneers or crowns, exposing a broken or decayed tooth for restoration, refining the smile after orthodontics, and tissue overgrowth that makes cleaning difficult.

Aftercare, Results, and Paying for Treatment

Recovery is usually straightforward. The treated tissue is tender for a few days, so we'll give you specific instructions on eating soft foods, keeping the area clean, and how to brush around the site while it settles. We'll follow up to check healing. Your new gum line is permanent as long as the tissue stays healthy, which makes consistent home care and regular cleanings important.

We accept all major PPO insurance plans and self-pay patients, and we offer flexible payment plans. Because contouring is often paired with other treatment, we'll go over the full estimate in advance so there are no surprises.