What Is a Gummy Smile and How Can It Be Treated?

Close-up of a smiling woman brushing her teeth, showing healthy gums and beautiful teeth Some people show a little more gum when they smile, and while that’s perfectly natural, it can sometimes affect how balanced the smile looks. The good news is that there’s an easy fix.

Dr. Glenn LeSueur, one of the few Phoenix-area dentists trained at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, offers gum recontouring at Drs of Smiles in Mesa, Arizona. This soft tissue laser technology makes it possible to reshape your gumline with minimal discomfort and quick healing. 

What Is a Gummy Smile?

A gummy smile refers to a smile that shows more gum tissue than most people consider proportionate. There’s no hard rule about how much gum is “too much,” but some people start to feel self-conscious when the gum tissue covers a significant portion of the teeth or when the gumline looks uneven.

Even if your teeth are healthy and straight, excess gum tissue can make them appear shorter or smaller. 

What Causes a Gummy Smile?

There are a few different reasons a person might develop a gummy smile. Some people naturally have more gum tissue covering their teeth. Others may have teeth that didn’t fully erupt. 

Lip length and muscle movement also play a role; a shorter upper lip or hyperactive muscles can expose more gum than usual when you smile.

How to Treat a Gummy Smile

Laser gum recontouring is one of the most precise ways to improve a gummy smile

Rather than using a scalpel, Dr. LeSueur relies on a soft tissue laser that carefully removes the excess gum tissue while sealing the area at the same time. This means no cutting, no stitches, and very little bleeding. 

The laser’s accuracy also helps limit swelling and greatly reduces the risk of infection. Most patients report only mild discomfort, and the healing process typically takes a few days.

One of the biggest advantages of laser gum contouring is that the results are immediate. As soon as the treatment is complete, your teeth will look longer, and your entire smile will look more proportional. 

In many cases, this one procedure is enough to create a noticeable change in how your smile looks.

Bring Out the Best in Your Smile

A gummy smile can make a big difference in how you feel about your appearance. With today’s laser technology and Dr. Glenn LeSueur’s experience, treatment is simple. To learn more or schedule a consultation, call Drs of Smiles in Mesa at 480-834-6991.

Ready To Schedule Your Appointment

* All indicated fields must be completed. Please include non-medical questions and correspondence only.

Drs of Smiles

Office Hours

Monday - Friday: 7am - 5pm
Sunday: Closed

Accessibility Toolbar

Scroll to Top