The tooth sets the proportion
Natural width, visible length, wear and tooth position influence how much structure should show.
Winnipeg North Dental Family Dentistry
Gum Contouring
Refine the gumline to create a more balanced frame for your smile.
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Gumline reshaping
A balanced gumline begins below what you can see.
Gum contouring changes the visible outline of tissue around selected teeth. It may refine an uneven margin, reveal more natural tooth structure or create a more consistent frame before cosmetic or restorative care.
Appearance is only the starting point. We measure the tooth, tissue and supporting bone so the proposed margin can heal in a stable position that remains practical to clean.
Smile proportion
Tooth
+ Gum
+ Lip
One moving smile
The gum defines the frame
Margin height, tissue thickness, symmetry and the bone beneath it determine where reshaping can remain stable.
The lip reveals the result
Lip movement determines how much tooth and gum are visible when you speak, rest and smile fully.
Why a gumline can look prominent
The same appearance can have different causes.
A “gummy” or uneven smile is a description, not a diagnosis. Tissue contouring helps only when the cause and anatomy support removing or repositioning gum safely.
Extra gum coverage
Natural tooth structure may remain partly covered after eruption.
Short or worn teeth
The teeth themselves may have lost length, changing proportion without excess gum.
Lip movement
A highly mobile or shorter upper lip can display more gum even when margins are healthy.
Jaw relationship
Skeletal position can influence gum display and requires a different assessment.
Measure before reshaping
We map the finish line before treatment starts.
Photos and careful measurements help compare neighbouring teeth and locate the enamel beneath the gum. Bone sounding or appropriate imaging may be needed when the position of supporting bone is uncertain.
Mark proposed margins
Compare gum levels with tooth width, midline and the smile curve.
Locate the enamel boundary
Identify where the natural crown ends and the root begins beneath tissue.
Assess tissue thickness
Thin and thick tissues respond differently to cutting, positioning and healing.
Check the supporting bone
Adequate space is needed between the final gum margin and bone for stable tissue health.
Two levels of treatment
Soft tissue only—or crown lengthening with bone adjustment.
Reshape gum tissue.
When bone is already an appropriate distance from the planned margin, selected tissue may be removed or reshaped with a laser or another precise instrument.
Appropriate for limited changes when the supporting anatomy allows stable healing.
Reposition tissue and bone.
When bone is too close to the desired gumline, tissue is accessed surgically and supporting bone may be adjusted before the gum is secured at its planned level.
Used when more natural tooth must be exposed while preserving a maintainable tissue relationship.
During and after treatment
The gumline changes immediately; maturation takes longer.
Local anaesthetic keeps the area comfortable during treatment. The tissue may look red, swollen or uneven while healing, and the final contour should not be judged in the first few days.
The planned margin is marked, tissue is reshaped and bleeding is controlled.
Follow cleaning, rinsing, diet and medication directions without disturbing the area.
Tissue closure and plaque control are reviewed; sutures are removed if used.
The margin settles over time before final restorative decisions are confirmed.
Gum contouring FAQs
Questions about reshaping the smile frame.
Is gum contouring done with a laser?+
A dental laser may be appropriate for selected soft-tissue changes. Other instruments or surgical techniques are used when access, tissue thickness or bone adjustment requires them.
Can the gums grow back?+
Tissue can rebound toward its original position when the underlying anatomy is not respected. Measuring the bone-to-margin relationship helps plan a more stable result.
Will I need bone removed?+
Not always. Bone adjustment is considered when it is too close to the proposed gumline or when more tooth structure must be predictably exposed.
How sore is recovery?+
Tenderness varies with the number of teeth and whether treatment involves soft tissue only or bone. Personalized instructions and comfort measures are provided.
When can veneers or crowns be placed?+
Timing depends on the location and extent of contouring. The gum margin may need to mature before final impressions, scans or bonding are completed.
Can gum contouring fix every gummy smile?+
No. Tooth wear, lip movement and jaw position can create excess gum display without excess removable tissue. The cause determines the appropriate options.