Some people have gum covering more of the tooth than usual, so teeth look short or the smile shows a lot of gum; in others the gum heights are uneven. Contouring rebalances tooth and gum proportions and is often done alongside veneers or crowns for a natural result.
Two approaches
- Gingivectomy: removes excess gum where the bone level is normal
- Crown lengthening: gum and a little bone are reshaped when the bone sits high, so the gum doesn’t grow back
Steps
- 1 Examination and X-ray of the bone level; gumline design
- 2 Local anaesthetic
- 3 Gum reshaping (plus bone recontouring if needed)
- 4 Dressing or sutures and aftercare instructions
Aftercare
- Use the prescribed mouthwash and brush around the area as instructed
- Soft, mild, lukewarm food
- No smoking or alcohol until healed
Common questions
Will the gum grow back?
If only gum is removed where the bone sits high, some regrowth can happen. The X-ray tells us when bone recontouring is needed to keep the result stable.
