Reveal More of Your Smile With Precise Gum Reshaping
Your gums frame your teeth, and their shape has a big impact on how your smile looks. When gums cover too much of the teeth, sit unevenly, or make teeth appear short, even a healthy smile can look unbalanced. Many people feel self-conscious about a “gummy” smile without realizing there’s a simple, effective way to correct it.
At New Face Dentistry, our dental team offers cosmetic gum contouring to sculpt a more even, proportionate gumline. By carefully reshaping excess gum tissue, we can reveal more of your natural teeth and create a smile that looks balanced and polished. Patients from Midtown, Buckhead, Decatur, Brookhaven, and across Atlanta choose gum contouring on its own or as part of a complete smile makeover.
Schedule Your Gum Contouring ConsultationWhat Is Gum Contouring?
Gum contouring, also called gum reshaping or a gum lift, is a cosmetic dental procedure that removes and sculpts excess gum tissue to improve the shape and symmetry of your gumline. The goal is to create gums that frame your teeth in natural, pleasing proportions.
The procedure is minimally invasive, typically completed in a single visit, and performed with local anesthesia for your comfort. Because it reshapes soft tissue rather than altering your teeth, gum contouring can create a meaningful cosmetic improvement while preserving your natural tooth structure.
Common Reasons Patients Choose Gum Reshaping
Patients seek gum contouring for a variety of cosmetic concerns, including:
- A gummy smile, where too much gum tissue shows when you smile
- An uneven gumline, where gums sit higher on some teeth than others
- Teeth that look short or small because they’re partially covered by gum tissue
- Excess gum tissue caused by genetics, certain medications, or past orthodontic treatment
- An asymmetrical smile that makes teeth look out of proportion
- Preparing for veneers or crowns, so restorations have a balanced frame
Is Gum Contouring Right for You?
You may be a good candidate for gum contouring if you:
- Feel your gums show too much when you smile
- Have an uneven or asymmetrical gumline
- Have teeth that look short because of excess gum tissue
- Have healthy gums, free of active gum disease
- Want to enhance the results of veneers, bonding, or other cosmetic treatments
- Have realistic expectations about cosmetic outcomes
Healthy gums are essential before any cosmetic gum procedure, so if gum disease is present, our team will treat it first with periodontal therapy. In some cases, a gummy smile is caused by the position of the jaw or the movement of the upper lip rather than excess gum tissue. Our dental team will evaluate the cause during your consultation and recommend the right approach.
Shaping Your Gumline: What Happens During Treatment
Gum contouring is a precise, carefully planned procedure. Our dental team takes time to design a gumline that complements your teeth, lips, and facial features. Most treatments take an hour or less, depending on how many teeth are involved. Here’s what to expect:
Benefits of Cosmetic Gum Contouring
Gum contouring offers a simple way to make a noticeable difference in your smile:
- Creates a more balanced smile: An even gumline improves overall facial and smile harmony.
- Makes teeth look longer and more proportionate: Revealing more tooth structure can make short teeth look naturally sized.
- Reduces a gummy smile: Less visible gum tissue lets your teeth take center stage.
- Minimally invasive: The procedure involves only soft tissue and is typically done in one appointment.
- Long-lasting results: In most cases, the reshaped gumline remains stable over time.
- Enhances other cosmetic treatments: Contouring creates an ideal foundation for veneers, bonding, and whitening.
- Boosts confidence: Many patients feel more comfortable smiling freely after treatment.
Pairing Gum Contouring With Other Cosmetic Treatments
Gum contouring is often the finishing touch that brings a smile makeover together. Many patients combine it with:
- Porcelain veneers: Contouring the gums first creates an even frame for new veneers.
- Dental bonding: Reshaping the gumline can enhance the length and shape of bonded teeth.
- Teeth whitening: A brighter shade paired with balanced gums creates a polished, youthful smile.
- Invisalign or SureSmile: After straightening, gum contouring can correct any remaining unevenness in the gumline.
Payment Options for Gum Contouring
Because gum contouring is usually performed for cosmetic reasons, it’s typically not covered by dental insurance. In some cases, when gum reshaping is needed for health or restorative purposes, partial coverage may be available. Our Atlanta team will review your benefits and provide a clear estimate before treatment.
We also accept CareCredit financing for qualified patients, and our Smile Club members save up to 15% on most treatments.
Frame Your Smile Beautifully With Gum Contouring
A balanced gumline can make a remarkable difference in how your smile looks and how confident you feel sharing it. Our dental team is here to help you create a smile that looks naturally beautiful from every angle. We welcome patients from Midtown, Buckhead, Decatur, Brookhaven, and throughout Atlanta to our office at 700 Morosgo Dr NE J – 100, Atlanta, GA 30324.
Call 404-262-9600 or request an appointment online to schedule your gum contouring consultation.
Request an AppointmentFAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About Gum contouring
Gum contouring is a cosmetic dental procedure that reshapes the gumline by removing excess gum tissue. It’s used to correct a gummy smile, even out an uneven gumline, and make short-looking teeth appear more proportionate. The procedure is minimally invasive and typically completed in a single visit. At our Atlanta office, every gumline is carefully planned to complement your teeth and facial features.
Gum contouring is typically very comfortable because the area is numbed with local anesthetic before treatment begins. You may feel slight pressure during the procedure, but you shouldn’t feel pain. Afterward, mild tenderness or swelling is common for a few days and usually responds well to over-the-counter pain relievers. Most patients return to normal activities the next day.
Most gum contouring procedures take about an hour or less, depending on how many teeth are being treated and the amount of tissue being reshaped. Treating a few teeth may take less time, while contouring the full smile may take a bit longer. Our team will give you a clear time estimate during your consultation.
Most patients feel comfortable within a few days after gum contouring, and the gums typically heal fully within one to two weeks. During healing, eating soft foods, brushing gently, and avoiding spicy or crunchy foods helps the tissue recover smoothly. Our Atlanta team will schedule a follow-up visit to make sure your gums are healing as expected.
In most cases, gum contouring results are long-lasting, because removed gum tissue typically doesn’t grow back. In some situations, a small amount of tissue may regenerate over time, particularly if gum overgrowth was caused by medications or other factors. Maintaining good oral hygiene and attending regular dental visits helps protect your results.
Yes. Gum contouring is one of the most common ways to correct a gummy smile caused by excess gum tissue. By removing and reshaping the extra tissue, more of your teeth are revealed, creating a more balanced smile. If your gummy smile is caused by jaw position or lip movement, our dental team will explain the best options for addressing it. Patients in Midtown, Buckhead, Decatur, Brookhaven, and across Atlanta can schedule an evaluation to find out.
For the first few days after gum contouring, stick with soft, cool foods such as yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, pasta, and smoothies eaten with a spoon. Avoid spicy, acidic, crunchy, and very hot foods that could irritate healing gums. Most patients can return to their normal diet within about a week as comfort allows.
Gum contouring performed for cosmetic reasons is usually not covered by dental insurance. If reshaping is needed for a health-related or restorative reason, such as preparing a tooth for a crown, partial coverage may be available. Our Atlanta team will verify your benefits and explain your costs before treatment. CareCredit financing and Smile Club savings are also available.
Yes. Gum contouring is often combined with porcelain veneers, dental bonding, teeth whitening, and clear aligner treatment as part of a complete smile makeover. Contouring the gums first creates an even, balanced frame for new restorations. Our dental team will help you plan the right order of treatments to achieve your ideal smile.
