SMILE DESIGN
Gummy Smile — A Treatable Cosmetic Concern
Gum recontouring and smile design for a balanced, confident smile
A gummy smile — where a significant amount of gum tissue is visible above the upper teeth when smiling — is not harmful and requires no treatment for health reasons. But for patients who are self-conscious about the proportion of gum to tooth, it is a cosmetic concern we can address.
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CAUSES
Why Gummy Smiles Happen
Too Much Gum Coverage
Excess gum tissue covering the teeth, making them appear shorter than they actually are. This is the most common cause.
At Vitality, we use digital smile analysis and CBCT imaging to understand the exact extent of gum coverage affecting your smile.
Laser gum recontouring can precisely remove excess tissue to expose more tooth structure and create balanced proportions.
The results are visible immediately, and healing is typically quick with minimal discomfort using laser technology.
Incomplete Tooth Eruption
Teeth that erupted incompletely and remain partially covered by gum tissue, giving the appearance of shorter teeth.
This condition often occurs when teeth don't fully erupt through the gum during development, requiring clinical assessment.
Treatment may involve exposing the tooth crown through surgical removal of covering gum tissue or through orthodontic movement.
Our team can evaluate whether your incomplete eruption can be treated with simple gum contouring or requires more complex intervention.
Short Upper Lip
A naturally short upper lip that reveals more gum tissue when smiling, even though the gum tissue is normal in proportion.
This anatomical variation means the lip doesn't cover the gum tissue adequately during smiling, creating a gummy appearance.
Unlike excess gum tissue, a short lip cannot be surgically altered, but other treatments can help balance the smile.
Treatments may include Botox to relax upper lip muscles or orthodontics to reposition teeth, depending on your specific anatomy.
Excessive Jaw Growth
Excessive vertical growth of the upper jaw, which can result in a longer distance between the teeth and the lip when smiling.
This skeletal concern is typically addressed through a combination of orthodontics and sometimes surgical jaw repositioning.
Our team uses CBCT imaging to assess whether jaw growth is contributing to your gummy smile appearance.
Treatment planning considers your facial proportions and goals to determine the best approach for harmonious results.
THE TREATMENT
Gum Recontouring & Smile Design
For excess gum tissue, a gum recontouring procedure (gingivectomy) removes the extra tissue and reshapes the gumline — revealing more of the tooth surface beneath. This can often be performed with a dental laser for precision, minimal bleeding, and faster healing.
For patients whose gummy smile is part of a broader aesthetic concern, the procedure may be combined with other cosmetic dentistry treatments — veneers, bonding, orthodontics, or teeth whitening — to achieve a balanced, proportionate result. Your dentist will assess the cause and recommend the most conservative approach.
Explore Cosmetic ServicesLaser Gum Contouring Benefits
Why we use dental lasers for gum reshaping
Precision targeting of excess tissue without affecting healthy gum
Minimal bleeding during and after procedure due to laser sealing effect
Faster healing compared to traditional scalpel surgery
What to Expect
Quick procedure — often completed in a single visit
Local anesthesia for comfort during the procedure
Minimal discomfort afterward with laser treatment
Can be combined with other cosmetic treatments for optimal results
About Gummy Smile Treatment
What you need to know
Local anesthesia numbs the area, so you should not feel pain during the procedure. After treatment, you may experience mild sensitivity or tenderness, which usually resolves within a few days.
Once gum tissue is removed, it does not grow back. However, gum disease or poor oral hygiene could cause changes in gum level over time.
In some cases, bite misalignment or jaw positioning can contribute to a gummy appearance. A comprehensive cosmetic evaluation can determine if orthodontics or other treatments are needed alongside gum contouring.
Most patients experience minimal downtime. With laser treatment, healing is typically faster — within one to two weeks. You can usually resume normal activities the next day.