What Gum Contouring Can Address
People generally consider gum contouring where a smile shows more gum tissue than they'd like, sometimes described as a "gummy" smile, or where the gum line is uneven or asymmetrical between teeth. It's a change to appearance rather than to the teeth themselves.
Gum Contouring and Gum Disease Treatment Are Not the Same Thing
Gum contouring is a cosmetic reshaping procedure. It is separate from treatment for gum disease, which addresses infection and inflammation of the gums. If you have an active gum condition, that needs to be assessed and treated in its own right — gum contouring is not a substitute for it. See General Dentistry for more on gum disease treatment.
Assessment and Planning
Assessment generally includes an examination of your gums and teeth, partly to understand what's contributing to how much gum shows, and partly to check whether your gums are healthy enough for a cosmetic procedure to be appropriate in the first place.
What to Expect in General Terms
Gum contouring generally involves removing a small amount of gum tissue at the relevant sites to reshape the gum line. It's usually carried out with local anaesthetic. The extent of reshaping and the technique used depend on the individual case.
Considerations and Limitations
Some tenderness or sensitivity in the days after treatment is a general consideration your dentist would discuss with you. As with any procedure involving the gums, healing and results vary between individuals, and gum contouring is only appropriate where your gums are otherwise healthy — an active gum condition would need to be addressed first.
Looking After Your Gums After Contouring
Gentle cleaning around the treated area while it heals, alongside your regular oral hygiene routine, is generally part of aftercare. Specific guidance would be given as part of your own treatment.
Related Treatments
To plan gum contouring alongside other cosmetic changes, see Smile Design. If you have concerns about gum health rather than appearance, see General Dentistry.
General information only — every treatment decision follows an individual clinical assessment.