Gum Contouring in Beverly Hills, CA
Medically reviewed by Dr. Kayla Lebeau, DDS
When it is the gums, not the teeth, that need changing
Some people have teeth that look short or uneven, and no amount of whitening or straightening fixes it, because the teeth are the right size and the gum is covering too much of them. A gummy smile is a gum problem with a gum solution.
Gum contouring reshapes the gum line so the right amount of tooth shows and the edges follow a natural curve. It is usually quick, done under local anesthetic, and it is often the step that makes veneers or crowns look right instead of nearly right.
- Usually takes30 to 60 minutes
- NumbingLocal anesthetic
- HealingA week, settling over a month
- Often done withVeneers or crowns
This is probably you if
- You see more gum than teeth when you smile
- Your teeth look short or square, even though they are healthy
- The gum line is uneven, one tooth sits noticeably higher than its twin
- Gum has grown over the teeth, sometimes as a side effect of medication
- You are planning veneers and want the proportions right underneath them
How it is done, and the check that matters most
- Measuring the biologic widthBefore anything is reshaped, we check how much gum sits above the bone. There is a minimum amount of tissue the bone needs above it. Remove past that and the gum simply grows back inflamed. Where the bone is too high, a small amount of bone is recontoured at the same time. Skipping this step is why some gum contouring relapses.
- Designing the smile lineWe mark where the gum should sit on each tooth so the curve is symmetrical and the front teeth are correctly proportioned. You see the plan before we start.
- NumbingLocal anesthetic. Most people are surprised how straightforward it is.
- ReshapingDone with a soft-tissue laser in most cases, which shapes and seals at once. Very little bleeding and usually no stitches.
- Healing and reviewThe gums are tender for a few days and continue to mature for several weeks. If veneers are part of the plan, we wait for that maturity before taking final records.
Healing well
- Soft food for a few days, and nothing sharp or very hot against the treated area.
- Brush gently around the site but do keep it clean. Use whatever rinse we give you.
- Expect the gums to look slightly uneven at first. They settle over several weeks; do not judge the result in week one.
- No smoking. It slows gum healing more than almost anything else.
Does it hurt?
Not during, because you are numb. Afterwards it feels like a mild burn or scrape for a few days and ordinary painkillers cover it.
Will the gum grow back over the tooth?
Not when the biologic width has been respected and, where needed, the underlying bone recontoured. That is precisely why the measurement step matters more than the reshaping.
Is it permanent?
Yes, in a healthy mouth. Gum disease or certain medications can change the gum line later, so the maintenance still applies.
Can it fix a gummy smile caused by my lip?
No. Some gummy smiles come from a hyperactive upper lip or the position of the jaw rather than excess gum, and reshaping the gum will not correct those. We assess which cause you have before recommending anything.
Can it be done at the same time as veneers?
The contouring is done first and allowed to mature, then the veneers are made to the final gum line. Doing both at once risks the margins showing when the gum settles.
How long until I can see the result?
The shape is immediate. The final, settled appearance takes about four to six weeks.
Find out what is actually making your teeth look short
- (310) 860-6969Someone here answers.
- Request a visitWe will call to confirm.
- Pick a time onlineChoose your own slot.
Is it the gums, or the teeth, or the lip?
A smile that shows too much gum has three possible causes, and contouring only fixes one of them. Getting this right is the whole consultation.
The gum sits too low on the teeth. The teeth are a normal size but partly covered, so they look short and square. This is the case gum contouring solves, often beautifully, in one appointment.
The upper jaw is long. The teeth and gums are normal; there is simply more of everything on show. Trimming gum here achieves very little and can make the teeth look odd. This needs orthodontics or, in significant cases, surgery.
The upper lip lifts unusually far. A hypermobile lip. Cutting gum does not address it.
We measure rather than guess. If contouring is not your answer we will tell you at the consultation, before you have paid for anything.
