Reshape an Uneven or Gummy Smile With Precision
The appearance of a smile is influenced by more than the teeth. The shape, height, and symmetry of the gumline also affect how large, balanced, and proportional the teeth appear.
When excess or uneven gum tissue makes teeth appear short or creates an irregular gumline, laser gum contouring can reshape selected gum tissue to create a more balanced relationship between the teeth and gums.
At Beverly Hills Cosmetic & Implant Center, Dr. Tamir Shams evaluates the teeth, gums, smile proportions, and underlying anatomy before recommending cosmetic gum reshaping.
Laser gum contouring may be performed as an individual cosmetic procedure or incorporated into a broader smile treatment involving porcelain veneers, crowns, whitening, or other cosmetic dentistry.
- What Is Laser Gum Contouring?
- What Can Laser Gum Contouring Correct?
- What Is a Gummy Smile?
- How Does Gum Contouring Change a Smile?
- Benefits of Laser Gum Contouring
- Laser Gum Contouring vs. Crown Lengthening
- Why the Bone Level Matters in Gum Contouring
- Laser Gum Contouring With Porcelain Veneers
- Laser Gum Contouring With Dental Crowns
- Gum Contouring as Part of a Smile Makeover
- What to Expect During Laser Gum Contouring
- What Is Recovery Like After Laser Gum Contouring?
- Is Laser Gum Contouring Permanent?
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What Is Laser Gum Contouring?
Laser gum contouring is a cosmetic dental procedure that uses dental laser technology to carefully reshape selected areas of gum tissue around the teeth.
The procedure may also be described as:
- Gum reshaping
- Gum recontouring
- Cosmetic gum contouring
- Gingival contouring
- Gingival reshaping
By modifying the visible gumline, contouring can change how much of the natural tooth is visible and improve symmetry between neighboring teeth.
The objective is not simply to remove gum tissue.
Successful treatment requires evaluating how the gumline relates to the teeth, lips, facial features, and overall smile.
What Can Laser Gum Contouring Correct?
Laser gum contouring may be considered for cosmetic concerns such as:
- A gummy smile
- Uneven gumlines
- Teeth that appear unusually short
- Excess gum tissue covering portions of the teeth
- Asymmetrical gum heights
- Irregular gum contours
- Gumlines that affect the appearance of veneers or crowns
Some patients require treatment around only one or two teeth, while others may benefit from reshaping across several visible teeth.
The appropriate treatment depends on what is causing the gumline concern.
What Is a Gummy Smile?
A gummy smile describes a smile in which a relatively large amount of gum tissue is visible above the upper teeth.
There is no universal amount of visible gum tissue that automatically requires treatment. Some people naturally show more gum when smiling and are completely comfortable with their appearance.
For patients who would like to change it, identifying the cause is important.
Excessive gum display can be related to several factors, including:
- Gum tissue covering more of the tooth surface
- Tooth size or shape
- Tooth position
- Lip movement
- Jaw and facial anatomy
- Altered passive eruption
- A combination of factors
Because not every gummy smile is caused solely by excess gum tissue, laser gum contouring is not appropriate for every patient with excessive gum display.
A cosmetic and periodontal evaluation helps determine what is actually contributing to the appearance.
How Does Gum Contouring Change a Smile?
Small differences in the gumline can have a significant visual effect.
When excess tissue covers part of a tooth, the tooth may appear shorter or more square than its actual dimensions.
Uneven gum heights can also make otherwise similar teeth appear different in length.
Carefully reshaping the gumline may help:
- Reveal more of the visible tooth surface
- Improve apparent tooth proportions
- Create greater gumline symmetry
- Balance neighboring teeth
- Improve the framing of the smile
- Prepare the gumline for selected cosmetic restorations
The amount of tissue that can appropriately be reshaped depends on the patient’s individual anatomy.
Benefits of Laser Gum Contouring
When appropriate, laser technology can provide several advantages for cosmetic gum reshaping.
Precise Tissue Reshaping
A dental laser allows selected areas of gum tissue to be carefully contoured according to the planned gumline.
Controlled Treatment
Laser technology allows the dentist to work selectively within the treatment area while simultaneously helping control bleeding during the procedure.
Improved Smile Symmetry
Reshaping an uneven gumline can create a more balanced relationship between neighboring teeth.
Enhanced Tooth Proportions
When excess gum tissue covers portions of the natural crowns of the teeth, appropriate contouring can reveal additional tooth surface and change their visible proportions.
Can Complement Cosmetic Dentistry
Gum contouring may be incorporated into treatment planning for veneers, crowns, whitening, or other cosmetic procedures when the gumline affects the overall result.
Laser Gum Contouring vs. Crown Lengthening
These terms are sometimes confused, but cosmetic gum contouring and clinical crown lengthening are not necessarily the same procedure.
Laser Gum Contouring
Cosmetic gum contouring generally involves reshaping selected soft gum tissue to improve the visible gumline.
Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening may involve more extensive modification of the tissues surrounding a tooth and, in certain cases, the underlying bone.
It can be performed for cosmetic or restorative reasons—for example, when more tooth structure must be exposed to properly restore a damaged tooth.
The correct procedure depends on the gum tissue, bone level, tooth structure, and treatment objective.
This distinction is especially important when evaluating a gummy smile because simply removing additional gum tissue is not always anatomically appropriate.
Why the Bone Level Matters in Gum Contouring
The gumline does not exist independently from the structures underneath it.
The relationship between the visible gum margin, tooth, and supporting bone must be considered before deciding how much tissue can safely and predictably be reshaped.
If excessive gum tissue is removed without accounting for the underlying anatomy, the tissue may not heal in the desired position or the health of the periodontal tissues may be affected.
For this reason, cosmetic gum contouring should begin with an evaluation rather than simply determining how much tooth the patient wants exposed.
Laser Gum Contouring With Porcelain Veneers
The gumline plays an important role in veneer treatment because it frames the visible teeth.
If gum heights are uneven or excess tissue makes certain teeth appear disproportionately short, gum contouring may sometimes be performed before porcelain veneers.
This allows both the gumline and tooth restorations to be planned as parts of the same smile design.
Depending on the treatment, adequate healing time may be recommended before final cosmetic restorations are completed.
Laser Gum Contouring With Dental Crowns
Gum symmetry can also influence the appearance of dental crowns, particularly on front teeth.
When multiple visible teeth are being restored, differences in gum height can make otherwise well-designed crowns appear uneven.
If gum reshaping is appropriate, treatment can be coordinated with the restorative plan so that:
- Tooth proportions
- Gumline
- Crown dimensions
- Shade
- Smile symmetry
are considered together.
Gum Contouring as Part of a Smile Makeover
Some patients have more than one cosmetic concern.
For example, a patient may want to address:
- Uneven gum heights
- Tooth discoloration
- Irregular tooth shapes
- Minor spacing
- Worn teeth
- Existing restorations
Rather than treating each issue independently, cosmetic procedures can sometimes be sequenced as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Depending on the patient’s needs, this might include:
- Invisalign
- Professional teeth whitening
- Laser gum contouring
- Porcelain veneers
- Dental crowns
- Composite restorations
Not every patient needs multiple procedures.
The purpose of comprehensive planning is to determine the most conservative combination of treatments needed to achieve the desired result.
What to Expect During Laser Gum Contouring
The exact procedure depends on how many teeth require treatment and the amount of tissue being reshaped.
Cosmetic & Gum Evaluation
Dr. Shams evaluates the gumline, tooth proportions, smile, and oral health.
The cause of excessive or uneven gum display is considered before treatment is recommended.
Treatment Planning
The desired gumline is planned in relation to the natural teeth and overall smile.
If veneers, crowns, or other cosmetic restorations are planned, their future dimensions can also influence the gum contour.
Local Anesthesia
The treatment area may be numbed with local anesthesia to maintain comfort during the procedure.
Laser Reshaping
Dental laser technology is used to carefully reshape selected gum tissue according to the treatment plan.
Healing & Follow-Up
The treated gums are monitored as they heal.
If additional cosmetic or restorative dentistry is planned, the appropriate timing for the next phase depends on the extent of treatment and tissue response.
What Is Recovery Like After Laser Gum Contouring?
Recovery varies according to the amount of tissue treated and individual healing response.
Patients may experience temporary:
- Gum tenderness
- Mild swelling
- Sensitivity
- Changes in the appearance of the treated tissue as it heals
Your dental team may provide instructions regarding oral hygiene, foods, and care of the treated area.
It is important to follow those recommendations and avoid unnecessarily irritating the gums during early healing.
Contact the office if you experience symptoms that seem unusual or worsen rather than improve.
Is Laser Gum Contouring Permanent?
Gum contouring is intended to create a long-term change in the shape of the treated gumline, but stability depends on the underlying anatomy and reason the tissue was present.
In certain situations, gum tissue may change or partially rebound during healing.
Periodontal health, tooth position, underlying bone, treatment technique, and individual healing can all influence the long-term result.
A proper evaluation before treatment helps determine whether simple soft-tissue contouring is likely to provide the desired outcome or whether another procedure is more appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Gum Contouring
Laser gum contouring is a dental procedure that uses laser technology to reshape selected areas of gum tissue. It may be performed to improve an uneven gumline, reduce certain types of excessive gum display, or create better proportions between the teeth and gums.
It can improve a gummy smile when excess or uneven gum tissue is a significant cause. However, gummy smiles can also result from lip movement, tooth position, jaw anatomy, bone levels, or other factors, so laser contouring is not appropriate for every case.
Local anesthesia may be used to maintain comfort during treatment. Temporary tenderness or sensitivity can occur afterward, and the experience varies according to the extent of treatment and individual response.
Healing time varies depending on how much tissue is treated and the patient’s individual response. Initial tenderness can improve relatively quickly, while the gum tissue may continue maturing and stabilizing beyond the early healing period.
Yes. If excess gum tissue covers part of the natural tooth surface, appropriate contouring can expose more of the visible tooth and make it appear longer. How much tissue can be reshaped depends on the relationship between the gum, tooth, and underlying bone.
Not necessarily. Cosmetic gum contouring primarily reshapes soft tissue, while crown lengthening may require more extensive treatment and can involve modification of the supporting bone. An evaluation determines which procedure is appropriate.
When both procedures are needed, gum contouring may be performed before final veneers so the restorations can be designed in relation to the established gumline. Treatment sequence and healing time depend on the individual case.
Some tissue changes can occur during healing, and the final gum position depends on the underlying anatomy and type of treatment performed. Proper diagnosis and treatment planning are important for creating a stable result.
Create Better Balance Between Your Teeth and Gumline
A beautiful smile is influenced by the relationship between the teeth, gums, lips, and facial features.