What Is Gum Contouring?
Gum contouring — also called gum reshaping, gingival contouring, or cosmetic crown lengthening — is a cosmetic dental procedure in which a small amount of excess gum tissue is carefully removed or repositioned to reveal more of the natural tooth surface and create a more symmetrical, proportionate gumline. The result is teeth that appear longer, more evenly sized, and better proportioned — without any change to the teeth themselves.
Gum contouring addresses two primary cosmetic concerns. Excessive gum display (a gummy smile): when a large amount of gum tissue is visible above the teeth when smiling — making teeth appear short or stubby — contouring removes the excess to expose a greater portion of the natural crown, with the ideal ratio showing roughly 1–2mm of gum tissue above the upper teeth when smiling widely. Uneven or asymmetric gumline: when the gumline dips lower on some teeth and higher on others, it creates visual inconsistency even when the teeth themselves are straight and healthy — contouring corrects the gumline level tooth by tooth, creating symmetry across the full smile.
A gummy smile or uneven gumline can stem from genetics (some patients naturally have more gum tissue covering their teeth), certain medications (particularly some antihypertensives and anticonvulsants) that cause gum overgrowth, abnormal tooth eruption where teeth didn't fully emerge from the gumline, lip hyperactivity where the upper lip lifts higher than average when smiling, or post-orthodontic tissue that didn't fully remodel after braces or Invisalign.
Is Gum Contouring right for you? Signs, symptoms & candidacy.
Signs You May Benefit from Gum Contouring
- When you smile widely, more than 3–4mm of gum tissue is visible above your upper teeth — a gummy smile that draws attention away from your teeth
- Your teeth appear shorter, smaller, or squarer than you'd like — even though the teeth themselves are healthy and normal-sized
- Your gumline is uneven across your front teeth — dipping lower on some teeth and higher on others — creating visual inconsistency
- After orthodontic treatment, your teeth look straight but the gumline remains uneven or asymmetric
- Your gumline is interfering with the appearance of veneers you're considering — gum contouring is often done before veneer placement to optimize proportions
- You're planning a smile makeover and your dentist has identified gumline correction as part of achieving the planned result
Who Makes a Strong Gum Contouring Candidate?
- Adults with good periodontal health — gums that are healthy, not inflamed, infected, or affected by active gum disease (periodontal treatment precedes contouring in these cases)
- Patients with excess gum tissue due to genetics, medication effects, or incomplete tooth eruption
- Patients with realistic expectations — gum contouring dramatically improves tooth proportions, but very large amounts of tissue excess may require additional treatment steps
- Patients who are part of a broader smile makeover plan — gum contouring is most commonly performed as a preparatory step before veneer placement or as part of a phased cosmetic plan
How Gum Contouring Works at Boca Specialty Dental & Braces in Reno
Free Cosmetic Consultation & Gumline Assessment
Your Boca dentist performs a clinical examination of your gum tissue, teeth, and bone structure. We evaluate the cause of your gummy smile or gumline asymmetry, assess periodontal health, and determine how much tissue reshaping is appropriate and what the result will look like. If veneers are planned alongside gum contouring, the contouring is designed in coordination with the final veneer proportions.
Smile Design & Preview
Using photographs and digital imaging, your dentist can show you a preview of how your smile will look with the gumline corrected. You can evaluate the proposed gumline height and symmetry before treatment begins.
Local Anesthesia
The treatment area is fully numbed with local anesthesia. Patients should feel pressure and mild vibration during the procedure but no pain. For anxious patients, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) sedation is available at select Boca locations — ask when booking.
Gum Tissue Removal & Reshaping
Your dentist precisely removes and/or reshapes the excess gum tissue, tooth by tooth, using a soft-tissue technique that ensures clean margins and predictable healing. The procedure reveals more of the natural tooth crown while maintaining the biological width — the healthy band of gum tissue that protects the underlying bone.
Post-Procedure Care & Healing
After the procedure, the treated tissue will be slightly swollen and tender for several days. Your dentist provides specific aftercare instructions: a soft diet for several days, careful brushing technique around the area, and any prescribed rinse or medication. Full soft-tissue healing typically occurs within 1–2 weeks, though final gum position stabilizes over 4–6 weeks.
Follow-Up Assessment
A follow-up appointment at 2–4 weeks allows your dentist to confirm healing is progressing normally and the gumline is settling to its intended position. If veneer placement follows gum contouring, it is typically scheduled after the gumline has fully stabilized (4–6 weeks post-procedure).
Procedure: a single appointment, 30–120 minutes depending on the extent of contouring. Soft-tissue healing: 1–2 weeks. Final gumline stabilization: 4–6 weeks. Veneer placement (if applicable): after the gumline has fully stabilized.
Why Gum Contouring Delivers Results No Other Cosmetic Procedure Can
Transforms Tooth Proportions Without Touching the Teeth
Gum contouring creates the appearance of longer, more proportionate teeth — without veneers, without drilling, without changing the teeth at all. The transformation comes entirely from optimizing the frame around your teeth.
Completed in a Single Appointment
Most gum contouring cases are done in one visit. Unlike multi-step cosmetic procedures, the reshaping is immediate — you leave with a dramatically improved gumline the same day.
Minimal Downtime
Most patients return to normal activities within 24–48 hours. Soft-tissue healing is typically complete within 1–2 weeks. This is one of the least disruptive cosmetic dental procedures available.
Permanent Results
Gum tissue does not regenerate to its pre-treatment position after contouring. Unlike whitening, which fades, or bonding, which wears, gum contouring delivers a lasting structural improvement to your smile architecture.
Essential Preparation for Veneers
Gum contouring before veneer placement allows your cosmetic dentist to design veneers to the final gumline — ensuring perfect proportions and symmetry in the finished result. Skipping gum contouring when it's indicated can compromise the aesthetics of even the finest porcelain veneers.
Why Reno Patients Choose Boca Dental & Braces for Gum Contouring
What sets us apart
- Gum contouring available at all 3 Reno-area locations — Moana (South Reno), Sparks–McCarran, and Sparks Kids & Braces
- Free cosmetic consultations — our dentists take the time to assess your gumline in the context of your full smile, not just as an isolated procedure
- Integrated cosmetic planning — gum contouring at Boca is designed in coordination with any subsequent cosmetic work (veneers, whitening, bonding) so the proportions are right from the start
- Nitrous oxide sedation available for anxious patients at select locations — ask when booking
- Flexible financing available for combined gum contouring and cosmetic procedures
- Evening and Saturday appointments — cosmetic procedures scheduled when it's convenient for you
- Bilingual staff — hablamos español — at multiple locations
Gum Contouring in Reno — Your Questions, Answered
Everything Reno and Sparks patients ask us most about gum contouring — tap any question to read the answer.
How Much Does Gum Contouring Cost in Reno, NV?
At Boca, cost should never stand between you and the care you need. We accept Nevada Medicaid and many major dental plans, verify your benefits at no charge, and offer flexible financing — so you can move forward with confidence.
Find Gum Contouring Near You — 3 Boca Dental & Braces Locations Across Reno
Boca Specialty Dental & Braces offers gum contouring and gummy smile correction at all 3 of its Reno-area locations, serving patients from South Reno, Midtown Reno, Downtown Reno, Sparks, Spanish Springs, Sun Valley, and throughout Washoe County. Free cosmetic consultations are available at every location — with evening and weekend appointments to fit around your schedule.
Book Your Gum Contouring Appointment
Choose your nearest Boca location and we'll confirm within one business hour. Same-day and next-day appointments available.