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Gum Contouring in Brookline, MA

Treatment Time:
45-90 minutes
Downtime:
3-7 days
Results:
Long term
Consultation:
Free
Gum contouring in Brookline MA reshaping an uneven gum line at Smile Brookline Beacon Street

Soft Tissue Aesthetics

Gum contouring in Brookline, MA reshapes the soft tissue framing your teeth, correcting a gummy smile or an uneven gum line so the teeth look properly proportioned. Patients from Coolidge Corner, Brookline Village, Chestnut Hill, Newton, Allston and Brighton come to us when their teeth look short rather than small.

Dr. Sara Stock, DDS plans contouring against facial proportion and lip line, and Dr. Yumi Ogata, our board-certified periodontist, performs the more involved cases. Having a periodontist in the practice matters here: an uneven gum line sometimes reflects the bone underneath, not just the tissue, and only an examination tells you which.

Before and after cosmetic gum contouring showing a balanced gum line at Smile Brookline Brookline MA

The Challenge

When a Gummy Smile Calls for Gum Contouring

Understanding Tooth Proportion

You do not dislike your teeth exactly. You dislike how much gum shows above them when you laugh properly, so you have trained yourself into a smaller smile. Or one tooth sits with its gum a millimetre lower than its twin on the other side, and once you have noticed it in a photograph you cannot unsee it. Whitening will not help. Veneers alone will not help either, because the problem is the frame rather than the picture.
Contouring reshapes that frame. Excess tissue is removed and the margins are sculpted so each tooth shows its full natural crown and the gum line follows an even, symmetrical curve from canine to canine. It takes one appointment for most patients, is performed under local anaesthetic and heals within a couple of weeks. Where the underlying bone sits too high, a small amount is recontoured at the same time so the result stays stable.

Understanding Your Treatment

What Is Gum Contouring?

The Science of Gingival Aesthetics

Gum contouring, also called gingival sculpting or gingivectomy, reshapes the gum tissue around the teeth to correct excessive gingival display or an uneven gum line. It is a cosmetic soft-tissue procedure, performed with a soft-tissue laser or fine surgical instruments under local anaesthetic, and it changes how much of each tooth is visible.

The design follows the zenith points, the highest point of gum on each tooth, which should form a predictable pattern across the smile. Where excess tissue alone is the issue, reshaping is straightforward. Where the bone crest sits too close to the enamel margin, a small amount of bone is recontoured at the same time to keep the new position stable long term.

Treatment Timeline:

Treatment Time:
45 to 90 minutes
First Signs:
Immediately
Full Effect:
4 to 8 weeks
Recovery:
3 to 7 days

What We Treat

Gum Contouring Treatment Areas

What Reshaping Corrects

Gummy Smile
Reduces excessive gum display so teeth show their full height
Uneven Gum Line
Balances margins that sit at different heights across the arch
Short-Looking Teeth
Reveals natural crown length hidden beneath excess tissue
Asymmetric Smile
Corrects a gum line that shows more on one side than the other
Before Veneers
Frames the teeth correctly before porcelain shape is finalised
Delayed Passive Eruption
Treats gum that never receded to its adult position

Benefits of Gum Contouring

One appointment, lasting change

Immediate ChangeThe new gum line is visible the day of treatmentMinimal DiscomfortLaser technique reduces bleeding and post-operative sorenessBetter Veneer ResultsCorrect proportions before porcelain shape is decidedPermanent When PlannedBone recontouring where needed keeps the result stableEasier to CleanEven margins are simpler to floss and keep inflammation-free

Gum Contouring vs. Alternatives

A high gum line has several possible causes, and the right treatment depends on which one applies to you.

TreatmentMechanismTimeResultsDurationDowntimeBest For
Gum ContouringCosmetic tissue reshaping45-90 minImmediateLong term3-7 daysExcess tissue and uneven gum margins
Crown LengtheningSurgical bone and tissue removal60-90 min6-8 weeksPermanent5-10 daysExposing tooth structure for a restoration
Dental VeneersBonded ceramic shells2 visits2-3 weeks10-15 years1-3 daysChanging tooth shape and shade, not the frame
Botox for Lip PositionMuscle relaxation10-15 min3-7 days3-4 monthsNoneHypermobile upper lip raising too far

Is This Right for You

Who Is a Good Candidate for Gum Contouring?

Finding Your Best Approach

Contouring suits patients whose gum tissue, rather than their teeth, is the problem. Because a gummy smile has several possible causes, the examination decides whether reshaping alone will achieve what you want.

Ideal Candidates for Gum Contouring

  • Adults with excessive gum display when smiling, caused by excess tissue
  • Patients with an uneven or asymmetric gum line across the front teeth
  • Anyone whose teeth look short because tissue never receded to its adult position
  • Patients planning dental veneers who need the frame corrected first
  • People with healthy gums, no active periodontal disease and good home care

Who Should Consider Another Option

  • Patients with active gum disease, which must be treated before elective reshaping
  • Anyone whose gummy smile is caused by a hypermobile upper lip or vertical jaw excess, where surgery or muscle treatment applies instead
  • Patients needing more tooth exposed for a restoration rather than for appearance, which is crown lengthening, when a restoration needs more tooth
  • Smokers, until cessation support is in place, since healing is measurably impaired

Where thin tissue or existing recession is present, reshaping can worsen root exposure, so those cases are assessed carefully. Background on gingival esthetics is available through the American Dental Association.

Your Experience

What Happens During Gum Contouring Treatment

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Design

    Dr. Stock marks the proposed gum line against your lip position and tooth proportions.

  2. Anaesthetic

    Local anaesthetic numbs the area completely before any tissue is touched.

  3. Reshaping

    A soft-tissue laser or fine scalpel removes excess tissue along the marked contour.

  4. Bone Check

    Where the bone crest sits too high, Dr. Ogata recontours it to keep the result stable.

  5. Review

    We check symmetry against the midline, then review healing at two and six weeks.

Risks and Side Effects

What to Know

Common Gum Contouring Side Effects

Tenderness and swelling for three to seven days is the usual experience, along with temporary sensitivity where the tooth surface is newly exposed. Minor bleeding on the first day is normal, and laser technique generally produces less than scalpel surgery.

Less Common Complications

Tissue can rebound toward its original position when the bone crest was not addressed, which is the main reason we assess bone before treating. Over-reduction risks exposing root surface, which is difficult to reverse. Infection is uncommon but possible, and healing is measurably slower in smokers and in patients with poorly controlled diabetes.

Safety and Case Selection

Contouring is elective, so we only proceed when the diagnosis supports it. A gummy smile caused by a hypermobile lip or vertical maxillary excess will not be corrected by removing tissue, and we say so rather than treating anyway. Tell us about anticoagulants, diabetes, smoking and bisphosphonate use, as each affects healing. Background is published by the American Dental Association.

Investment

Gum Contouring Cost in Brookline

Pricing and Payment Options

How Much Does Gum Contouring Cost in Brookline?

Fees depend on how many teeth are being reshaped and whether bone recontouring is required. Reshaping tissue across two or four front teeth is a modest procedure, while a full smile-zone case involving bone is significantly more involved. Nationally, cosmetic gum contouring commonly ranges from about $300 to $600 per tooth, with full-arch aesthetic cases quoted individually. You receive a written figure at the consultation.

Consultation and Flexible Payment Options

Cosmetic consultations at Smile Brookline are complimentary. Purely cosmetic reshaping is not usually covered by insurance, though cases with a functional or periodontal indication sometimes are, and we identify those on the plan.

The Smile Brookline Difference

Why Choose Smile Brookline for Gum Contouring in Brookline

Beacon Street Since 1992

Dr. Sara Stock, DDS designs the aesthetics and Dr. Yumi Ogata, an associate professor of periodontology at Tufts, handles cases where bone is involved. That combination means we can tell you whether your gummy smile is soft tissue, bone position, a short upper lip or jaw development, and treat accordingly.

Book Your Visit

  • Periodontist On Site

    Dr. Ogata handles cases where bone must be recontoured

  • Correct Diagnosis

    Tissue, bone, lip and jaw causes distinguished before treating

  • Designed With the Teeth

    Gum line planned alongside any veneer or crown work

  • Free Consultation

    Cosmetic consultations at Smile Brookline are complimentary

  • Tufts Faculty Surgeon

    Dr. Ogata is an associate professor of periodontology at Tufts

  • Photographic Planning

    The new gum line is designed on photographs before treatment

Dental veneers in Brookline MA being fitted for a patient at Smile Brookline on Beacon Street

Explore More

Dental Veneers

Custom porcelain veneers that correct shape, shade and spacing in two visits.

  1. Several Fixes at Once
  2. Stain Resistant
  3. Preview Before You Commit
Learn More

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Take-Home Teeth Whitening

Custom professional trays for a brighter smile on your schedule.

  1. Even Coverage
  2. Less Sensitivity
  3. You Control the Pace
Learn More

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Smile Makeover

A complete plan that combines treatments into one coordinated result.

  1. One Coherent Result
  2. Correct Sequence
  3. Preview First
Learn More

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Gum Disease Treatment

Stop bleeding, swelling and bone loss before you lose a tooth.

  1. Stops Bone Loss
  2. Bleeding Resolves
  3. Fresher Breath
Learn More

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Gum Contouring

How much does gum contouring cost in Brookline, MA?
Cost depends on how many teeth are reshaped and whether bone needs recontouring. Nationally, cosmetic gum contouring commonly runs $300 to $600 per tooth, with full smile-zone cases quoted individually. Your cosmetic consultation is complimentary and produces a written figure. Purely cosmetic reshaping is generally not covered by insurance.
How long does gum contouring take?
Most cases are completed in a single appointment of 45 to 90 minutes, depending on how many teeth are involved and whether bone is recontoured. You see the new gum line the same day, although swelling means the final contour takes four to eight weeks to appear fully.
Does gum contouring hurt?
The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, so you should feel pressure but no pain. Afterwards, expect tenderness for three to seven days that over-the-counter pain relief manages comfortably. Laser technique generally causes less bleeding and less post-operative soreness than a scalpel.
Is gum contouring permanent?
When the diagnosis is correct, yes. Tissue reshaped without addressing an underlying high bone crest can rebound toward its original position within months, which is why we assess bone before treating and recontour it where needed. Cases planned properly hold their result long term.
When will I see the final result?
The new gum line is visible immediately, but tissue is swollen for the first week. Expect the true contour to emerge over four to eight weeks as healing completes. If veneers are planned, we wait for full maturation before taking final impressions so the margins sit correctly.
What is the difference between gum contouring and crown lengthening?
Gum contouring is cosmetic reshaping of soft tissue to improve how the smile looks. Crown lengthening is a surgical procedure that removes bone as well as tissue to expose more tooth structure so a crown or filling can hold. One is about appearance, the other about function.
Can men have gum contouring?
Yes. Excessive gingival display and uneven gum margins are not gender-specific, and treatment is identical. Design considerations differ slightly, since male smiles generally suit a flatter gum line contour, but the procedure and healing are the same.
Will my gums grow back?
Properly performed contouring produces a stable result. Some tissue rebound in the first weeks is normal as swelling resolves. Significant regrowth usually indicates the bone crest was the real determinant of gum position and was not addressed, which is why the initial assessment matters more than the technique.
Can gum contouring fix any gummy smile?
No, and this is where honest diagnosis matters. If your gummy smile is caused by a hypermobile upper lip or excessive vertical jaw growth, removing tissue will not correct it. We assess lip dynamics and skeletal proportion at the consultation and will tell you plainly if reshaping is the wrong treatment.
Should I have contouring before veneers?
Yes, when both are planned. The gum line defines where a veneer margin sits and how long the tooth appears, so contouring first lets the porcelain be designed to the corrected frame. We allow four to eight weeks of healing before taking final impressions.

Location

1425 Beacon StreetBrookline, MA, 02446

Email

info@smilebrookline.com

Phone

(617) 731-3364

Get Started

Book Your Free Consultation

References

  1. Dym H et al., Dent Clin North Am. (2020). Diagnosis and Treatment Approaches to a "Gummy Smile". PMID: 32111273.
  2. Capodiferro S et al., Dent Clin North Am. (2022). Laser-Assisted Gingivectomy to Treat Gummy Smile. PMID: 35738735.
  3. Mele M et al., Periodontol 2000. (2018). Esthetic treatment of altered passive eruption. PMID: 29504162.
  4. American Dental Association. (2025). Oral Health Topics library covering soft-tissue procedures and periodontal esthetics.