Love Your Smile — Not Just Your Teeth.
A “gummy smile” or uneven gum line can overshadow otherwise beautiful teeth. Gum recontouring reshapes your gums with precision — revealing more tooth, improving symmetry, and transforming your smile. Performed by our periodontist on staff. No referrals. No waiting.
Free consultation · 0% financing · Insurance accepted
Reshaping the Frame Around Your Smile
Your gums are the frame around your teeth. When that frame is uneven, excessive, or asymmetric, it changes the way your entire smile looks — no matter how straight or white your teeth are. Gum recontouring (also called gum reshaping or crown lengthening for cosmetic purposes) carefully removes or reshapes excess gum tissue to reveal more of your natural tooth and create a balanced, proportional smile line.
Fixes Gummy Smiles
Excess gum tissue makes teeth look short or stubby. Recontouring reveals the full length of your teeth for a naturally proportional smile.
Evens the Gum Line
If your gum line is higher on some teeth than others, recontouring creates a smooth, even contour that frames your smile symmetrically.
Periodontist on Staff
Gum recontouring at Island Dental is performed by our periodontist on staff — a specialist in gum tissue. Not your general dentist with a YouTube video. A trained specialist.
Quick Recovery
Most patients are back to normal the next day. Laser recontouring is especially gentle — minimal bleeding, minimal swelling, and faster healing than traditional methods.
Signs You May Benefit from Gum Recontouring
Many patients don’t realize that their gums — not their teeth — are the reason their smile doesn’t look the way they want. If any of these describe you, gum recontouring could be the answer.
- Your teeth look short or stubby because too much gum shows
- Your gum line is uneven — higher on some teeth than others
- You show a lot of gum when you smile (a “gummy smile”)
- You’ve considered veneers but your gums are part of the issue
- You’ve always been self-conscious about how much gum shows when you laugh
Not sure? Schedule a free consultation and our periodontist will give you an honest assessment.
Recontouring at a Glance
- Time: 30–60 minutes typically
- Visits: Usually 1 appointment
- Anesthesia: Local anesthesia (you’re awake and comfortable)
- Recovery: 1–2 days for most patients
- Results: Visible immediately
- Performed by: Periodontist on staff
Laser vs. Traditional Gum Recontouring
Our periodontist offers both laser and traditional surgical recontouring. The best approach depends on the amount of tissue being reshaped and whether bone adjustment is needed.
Laser Gum Recontouring
Most CommonA soft-tissue laser precisely removes excess gum tissue with minimal bleeding and faster healing. Ideal for mild to moderate gummy smiles and uneven gum lines where no bone adjustment is needed.
- Pinpoint precision — targets only excess tissue
- Minimal bleeding and swelling
- Faster healing than traditional surgery
- No sutures in most cases
- Usually completed in one visit
Surgical Recontouring (Crown Lengthening)
For cases where excess bone is covering the tooth in addition to gum tissue. Our periodontist gently reshapes both bone and gum tissue to expose the proper amount of tooth. More involved than laser recontouring, but delivers dramatic results for severe gummy smiles.
- Addresses both gum tissue and underlying bone
- Required when bone is the primary cause of a gummy smile
- Performed under local anesthesia (sedation available)
- Recovery typically 1–2 weeks
- Long-lasting, permanent results
What to Expect — Step by Step
1. Free Consultation
Our periodontist examines your gum tissue, takes measurements, and discusses your goals. We determine whether laser or surgical recontouring is right for you.
2. Anesthesia
Local anesthesia numbs the treatment area completely. You’re awake and comfortable. Sedation is available if you prefer a more relaxed experience.
3. Reshaping
Your periodontist carefully removes excess tissue using a laser or surgical instruments, sculpting a natural, symmetrical gum line. The procedure typically takes 30–60 minutes.
4. Immediate Results
You can see the difference right away. Your teeth look longer, more proportional, and your smile is more balanced. Full healing takes 1–2 weeks, but you’re back to normal activities quickly.
Combine Gum Recontouring with a Smile Makeover
Many patients get the best results by combining gum recontouring with other cosmetic treatments. Once the gum line is reshaped, treatments like porcelain veneers, crowns, or whitening can transform your entire smile — and everything is done right here, under one roof.
- Gum recontouring + porcelain veneers for a complete transformation
- Gum recontouring + crowns for teeth that appear too short
- Gum recontouring + whitening for a brighter, more balanced smile
- All coordinated between our periodontist, prosthodontist, and lab team
- All done in one place — no referrals, no outside offices
Specialist + Lab + Prosthodontist = Better Results
When gum recontouring is part of a larger cosmetic plan, our periodontist works directly with our prosthodontist and on-site lab technician. They plan together, execute together, and deliver a coordinated result that most dental offices simply cannot offer.
Gum Recontouring FAQs
No. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so you won’t feel discomfort during treatment. After the anesthesia wears off, most patients experience mild soreness for a day or two — manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers. Laser recontouring tends to have even less post-procedure discomfort than traditional methods.
Yes. Once gum tissue is removed, it does not grow back. The results are permanent. This is one of the most lasting cosmetic improvements you can make to your smile.
For laser recontouring, most patients feel back to normal within 1–2 days. The gums may be tender for a few days and fully heal within 1–2 weeks. Surgical recontouring (crown lengthening) may require 1–2 weeks of gentle care. Our periodontist will give you specific aftercare instructions.
All gum recontouring at Island Dental is performed by our periodontist on staff — a dental specialist trained specifically in gum tissue procedures. A specialist who is part of your care team and knows your history.
Purely cosmetic gum recontouring is typically not covered by dental insurance. However, if the procedure is medically necessary (for example, crown lengthening to restore a broken tooth), insurance may cover part of the cost. We verify your benefits before treatment and offer 0% financing for any remaining balance.
Absolutely — and many patients get the best results this way. Gum recontouring creates the ideal canvas, and porcelain veneers transform the teeth themselves. Our periodontist and prosthodontist plan these cases together so every detail is coordinated from start to finish.
No matching questions. Try a different word, or ask us directly.
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