If too much gum shows when you smile, you're not alone — and it's very treatable. Our minimally invasive gum contouring procedures reshape your gumline in a single visit, revealing more of your teeth and creating the balanced, confident smile you deserve.
UNDERSTANDING A GUMMY SMILE
A "gummy smile" — clinically known as excessive gingival display — occurs when the gums are proportionally too prominent relative to the teeth when smiling. It can make teeth appear shorter than they actually are, and it often makes people feel self-conscious about their smile.
A gummy smile can be caused by excess gum tissue, teeth that didn't fully erupt, a short upper lip, or the way the upper jaw bone developed. Identifying the exact cause guides the most appropriate and effective treatment approach.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
The right treatment depends on the underlying cause of your gummy smile. We evaluate all factors before recommending the most effective approach.
Using a soft-tissue dental laser, we precisely reshape the gumline by removing excess gum tissue to reveal more of each tooth's natural crown. The laser seals as it cuts — meaning minimal bleeding, reduced discomfort, and faster healing than traditional surgical methods.
When bone levels also need to be adjusted for a stable, healthy result, crown lengthening surgery removes both excess gum tissue and a small amount of bone to create proper tooth-to-gum proportions and long-term stability.
When a gummy smile is caused by teeth that over-erupted, orthodontic treatment can intrude (move upward) the affected teeth to reduce gum display without surgery.
A minor surgical procedure that limits how high the upper lip rises when smiling — effective for gummy smiles caused by lip hypermobility rather than excess gum or bone.
RECOVERY & RESULTS
Laser gum contouring is a remarkably straightforward procedure. Most patients experience only mild tenderness for 1–3 days, manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers. The gumline heals within 1–2 weeks, and your final result is visible as swelling fully resolves over 2–4 weeks.
The results of gum contouring and crown lengthening are permanent — once tissue is removed and bone (if applicable) is reshaped, the gumline does not grow back to its previous position. This is a one-time procedure for most patients.
WHY CHOOSE TRUSTED DENTAL
Gum contouring is as much art as science. We approach every case with a careful eye for proportion, symmetry, and long-term health.
Our dental laser delivers precise gum reshaping with minimal bleeding, reduced discomfort, and significantly faster healing than traditional scalpel methods.
We plan each contour with meticulous attention to the golden proportion of tooth-to-gum ratio so the final result looks perfectly natural and balanced.
Gum contouring is often the foundation for subsequent veneer or crown work. We coordinate the entire cosmetic plan for optimal final results.
Our clinicians have performed hundreds of gum contouring cases and handle even complex cases requiring crown lengthening with confidence.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Answers to the questions we hear most from patients in Hawthorne and across the South Bay.
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia so you feel no pain during treatment. Afterward, most patients experience mild tenderness for 1–3 days that is easily managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. Most patients are pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the recovery is.
In most cases, no. When performed correctly, gum contouring and crown lengthening produce permanent results. Some patients with very rapid tissue healing or cases where crown lengthening wasn't performed may experience minor regrowth. We address this with a follow-up treatment if needed.
The amount of tissue that can be safely removed depends on the distance between the existing gumline and the underlying bone (the "biologic width"). We take X-rays and do a clinical assessment before treatment to determine the maximum amount of safe and stable tissue removal for your specific anatomy.
Yes, and it's often recommended to do gum contouring first. Reshaping the gumline before placing veneers ensures the veneers are designed to the correct final tooth proportions, producing the most harmonious and natural-looking result possible.
Gummy smile treatment is one of the most impactful cosmetic procedures we offer — with minimal recovery and permanent results. Book an Appointment at our Hawthorne office today.