Some smiles show more gum than tooth, and it’s rarely about the teeth themselves. A “gummy” smile, an uneven gum line, or gum tissue that sits higher on one side than the other usually comes down to how much gum covers the tooth, not the tooth’s actual size or shape.
Gum contouring reshapes that tissue to change how much tooth shows and how even the gum line looks. It’s a single-visit procedure for most patients, done under local anaesthetic, and the results are permanent since gum tissue doesn’t grow back the way it was.
This page covers what the procedure involves, who it suits, the two main techniques we use, and what recovery looks like.
Gum contouring, sometimes called gum reshaping or gingival sculpting, removes or repositions gum tissue to expose more of the natural tooth underneath. It’s a cosmetic procedure in most cases, though it’s occasionally needed for functional reasons too, such as preparing a tooth for a crown that needs more visible surface to bond to.
The amount of change varies a lot by patient. Some people need a small adjustment to even out one or two teeth; others have gum tissue covering a significant portion of their teeth across the whole smile, which needs more extensive reshaping. Either way, the tooth itself isn’t altered, only the tissue around it.
We offer two approaches, and which one fits depends on how much tissue needs to move and your own preference.
Laser gum contouring uses a soft-tissue laser to reshape the gum line with minimal bleeding, since the laser seals blood vessels as it goes. It’s typically faster to heal from and is our default recommendation for most cosmetic cases.
Surgical gum contouring uses a scalpel instead, which suits more extensive reshaping or cases where a laser isn’t the right tool for the job, such as when bone needs adjusting alongside the gum tissue. It takes a little longer to heal than the laser option but achieves the same permanent result.
Not sure which technique fits your smile? We’ll talk you through the options at your assessment.
Most people with healthy gums and teeth are candidates, whether the concern is a fully gummy smile or just one or two uneven teeth. The main thing we check before recommending it is gum health: contouring isn’t the right first step if there’s active gum disease, since that needs treating on its own before any reshaping goes ahead.
Think gum disease might be part of the picture? That’s exactly what a check-up is for, and it comes before any cosmetic work.
It’s worth being realistic about what contouring changes. It adjusts how much tooth shows, not the tooth’s colour, shape or alignment, so if crowding or discolouration is part of what’s bothering you about your smile, contouring is usually one part of a bigger plan rather than the whole answer.
1. Assessment. We check your gum health and map out exactly how much tissue needs to move to get the result you want.
2. Local anaesthetic. The treatment area is numbed before anything else happens, so the procedure itself is comfortable.
3. Reshaping. Using a laser or surgical instruments depending on your case, we remove or reposition the gum tissue to the planned new gum line.
4. Aftercare guidance. You’ll leave with clear instructions on eating, cleaning and what to expect over the following week or two.
Most cases are finished in a single appointment lasting somewhere between twenty minutes and an hour, depending on how much tissue is involved.
Mild soreness and some swelling for the first few days is normal and usually manageable with over-the-counter painkillers. Sticking to soft foods for the first day or two and avoiding anything very hot, spicy or crunchy helps the area settle without irritation.
Keep brushing and flossing as normal, just gently around the treated area, using a soft-bristled brush until it’s fully healed. Most patients are back to their usual routine within a week to ten days, though full healing of the gum tissue itself can take a few weeks longer to settle into its final shape.
Gum contouring results are permanent in the sense that reshaped tissue doesn’t grow back to its previous position. What can change the outcome over time is gum recession from things unrelated to the procedure, such as aggressive brushing or untreated gum disease, so keeping up good oral hygiene protects the result just as much as it protects your teeth.
Gum contouring is often done alongside other cosmetic work rather than on its own. It’s a common first step before teeth whitening, since an even gum line makes whitening results look more balanced, and it’s sometimes needed to prepare a tooth properly before fitting a crown or veneer.
If uneven teeth are part of what’s bothering you alongside the gum line, it’s worth having that conversation at the same consultation. We’ll talk through whether straightening, whitening or contouring, or some combination, gets you closest to what you’re after.
Cost depends on how much tissue needs reshaping and whether laser or surgical technique is the right fit for your case, so we don’t quote a figure without seeing you first. Our payment plans and membership plans may apply, and full pricing across our other treatments is listed on our fee guide page. A consultation is the only way to get an exact number for your case.
Getting the gum line right is as much about eye and planning as it is about the tool used to do it. We assess your whole smile, not just the gum tissue, before recommending an approach, so the result fits your face and your other teeth rather than looking done in isolation.
If dental anxiety is part of what’s holding you back, our nervous patients page explains how we handle that. New to the practice? Our new patients page walks through what your first visit looks like, and meet the team if you’d like to know who you’ll be seeing.
The procedure is done under local anaesthetic, so you shouldn’t feel pain during it. Some soreness and swelling for a few days afterwards is normal and manageable with over-the-counter painkillers.
Most cases are completed in a single visit lasting twenty minutes to an hour, depending on how much tissue needs reshaping.
Yes, reshaped gum tissue doesn’t grow back to its previous position. Recession from unrelated causes like gum disease or aggressive brushing could change the gum line over time, so good oral hygiene protects the result.
Laser contouring uses a soft-tissue laser with minimal bleeding and typically faster healing. Surgical contouring uses a scalpel and suits more extensive reshaping or cases needing bone adjustment alongside the gum work.
In many cases, yes, though the right amount of reshaping depends on your specific gum line and is confirmed at assessment. Very gummy smiles sometimes need contouring combined with other treatment for the best result.
Yes. Active gum disease needs treating first, since contouring isn’t the right starting point when the gums aren’t healthy.
Yes, it’s commonly done as a first step before whitening or before fitting crowns or veneers, so the finished smile looks even and proportioned.
It depends on how much tissue needs reshaping and which technique suits your case, confirmed at your consultation.
