Gum Lift: What You Need to Know
Pros & cons
How much it costs
What to expect
How long healing takes
Fast facts
A gum lift procedure reshapes your gum line to show off your teeth, reducing the amount of visible gum tissue and giving you a more beautiful smile. Cosmetic dentists and periodontists (gum specialists) perform the procedure, which is also known as laser gum contouring, crown lengthening, or a gingivectomy.Â
People have a gummy smile for a variety of reasons. It may be because your gums didn’t recede after your adult teeth grew in or because you have a short upper lip, which reveals more gum tissue.Â
You may consider crown lengthening if your gums cover enough of your teeth to make them look disproportionately small for your face. The procedure can also even out an uneven gum line.
Excess gum tissue can also trap bacteria and plaque, which may increase your risk of gum disease. Eliminating it can make it easier to keep your gums and teeth clean, though you'll need to be treated for any existing periodontal disease and have a clean bill of oral health before having a gum lift procedure.
Gum reshaping can enhance the results of other cosmetic dental procedures, such as dental crowns or porcelain veneers, to give you a smile makeover. “Your veneers will not look their best if your gum tissue isn’t taken into consideration. Gum contouring can enhance other cosmetic procedures, completing your desired look,” says Dr. Andy Shieh, a dentist in Warrendale, Pennsylvania.Â
Many laser gum reductions concentrate on the “smile zone,” the front teeth that are most visible. Your dentist will recommend which teeth could benefit most from gum contouring, so you end up with the best results possible.Â
RealSelf Tip: In addition to a gum recontouring, you can have Botox injections to correct a gummy smile. The Botox is placed under the nose and around the muscles that raise the upper lip, to help keep your lip from rising as far when you smile.
Pros
- Local anesthetic makes a laser gum lift a relatively painless procedure, with no stitches involved.
- It’s a quick, easy surgery with a short recovery time.
- Results are usually permanent, with little to no follow-up treatment needed.
Cons
- Gum contouring may not always be an option to correct a gummy smile. If the issue stems from your bone structure, you may need more invasive and costly orthognathic surgery instead.
- Some tenderness is possible after the procedure, as you heal.
- Average Cost:
- $2,049
- Range:
- $444 - $3,500
Your cost will depend on your dentist's level of experience, their practice location, and the extent of work needed.Â
Gum contouring is usually considered cosmetic dentistry, so dental insurance doesn't typically cover it.
The gum lift photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.
Your dentist will first take X-rays to determine your bone levels relative to your teeth. This helps dentists determine how much gum tissue to remove in proportion to your teeth and develop a treatment plan. The amount of tissue they’ll be able to remove is usually very small—2 mm or less.
A local anesthetic will be applied to numb the treatment area, so it shouldn't be painful.
Providers typically contour the gum area with a soft-tissue laser, to seal off blood vessels, reduce bleeding, and lower your risk of infection (though some still perform the procedure using a scalpel). The whole procedure should take less than an hour.
Your gums may be swollen and painful for a few days afterward. Eat cool, soft foods and avoid anything spicy or likely to get stuck in your teeth. Follow your dentist's instructions for keeping your mouth clean, and use over the counter pain medication to reduce any discomfort.
It may take a few weeks for your gums to heal completely. Because the gum tissue won’t grow back, results are permanent.
Updated July 21, 2023