Gummy smile
Excessive gum show when smiling — the gum is gently re-contoured to reveal more natural tooth and rebalance the smile.
Smile design
Reshape the frame.
Reveal the smile.
Precision soft-tissue re-contouring with a gentle ceramic shaper, similar to a laser — for a gummy smile, an uneven gum line, or teeth that look shorter than they should.
What is gum shaping?
Reshape the frame. Reveal the smile.
The gum line is half the smile design — it's the frame, and a heavy or uneven frame distracts from even the most beautifully shaped teeth. Gum shaping uses a gentle ceramic shaper — similar to a laser — to gently re-contour the gum line, exposing more tooth, evening out asymmetry, and giving the smile a balanced, well-proportioned look.
For Dr. Albert, this is one of the quiet workhorses of cosmetic dentistry — it transforms a smile photographically. In most cases, simple gum shaping is done in a single visit, with no stitches and full healing within a week or two. In more advanced cases, precise gum surgery can be done for an even more elevated result.
Who it suits
When the frame is the problem — not the teeth.
Gum shaping is one of the most quietly transformative treatments in cosmetic dentistry. It's also one of the most under-used — most patients never realise how much of their smile is being framed by an awkward or asymmetric gum line.
Uneven gum line
When some teeth look longer than others because the gum sits at different heights — corrected by re-shaping the gum to a clean, even line.
Short-looking teeth
Teeth that are perfectly fine but appear stunted because the gum sits too low — sculpted back to the right proportion.
Pre-bonding or pre-veneer prep
Re-shaping the gum first means we can design bonding or veneers around an ideal frame — not work around an awkward one.
Why the frame matters
The brain reads the gum line first — before it sees the teeth.
Most cosmetic plans focus only on the teeth. But the eye reads the smile holistically — the gum line, the lip line, the proportion of tooth showing. A perfectly designed tooth on a heavy or uneven gum line still looks off, in a way patients can sense but rarely articulate.
When the frame is right, every tooth in front of it benefits. That is why Dr. Albert designs the gum line and the teeth together — and why gum shaping is so often the quiet first step that makes everything else work.
Two ways to reshape the gum
Two options — the same gentle care.
Most gum reshaping needs no surgery at all — a gentle ceramic shaper, similar to a laser, does the work. For more significant changes, gentle gum surgery (crown lengthening) does more. Both are carried out comfortably under local anaesthetic, and the process is much the same either way — Dr. Albert simply advises the option that best suits your smile.
Gentle ceramic shaper
Similar to a laser, it gently removes up to 1 mm of gum to even the line and reveal a little more tooth. Comfortable under local anaesthetic, with no stitches and quick healing in 1–2 weeks — ideal for touch-ups and minor adjustments.
Gentle gum surgery (crown lengthening)
For more significant changes, crown lengthening removes more than 1 mm of gum to reshape the smile properly. Also done under local anaesthetic, it involves a few small, almost-invisible stitches and heals within 2–3 weeks.
What to expect
A calm visit. A gentle recovery.
Non-surgical
Gum shaping with the gentle ceramic shaper
- During
A single calm visit
Local anaesthetic, then gentle re-contouring with a ceramic shaper — up to 1 mm of gum eased back to the agreed line. Typically 30–60 minutes, with no discomfort during the procedure.
- First few days
Mild tenderness only
A little tenderness for 2–4 days, easily managed with regular pain relief. Soft food for the first 24 hours. No stitches needed.
- Week 1–2
Healed and settled
The gum settles fully into its new shape within 1–2 weeks. A short review appointment confirms everything looks exactly as designed.
Surgical
Crown lengthening
- During
A single surgical visit
Local anaesthetic, then gentle crown-lengthening surgery — reshaping more than 1 mm of gum for a more significant change. A few small, almost-invisible stitches support the new gum line.
- First week
Mild tenderness only
A little tenderness for a few days, easily managed with regular pain relief. Soft food to begin with while the area settles.
- Week 2–3
Gum settles to its final line
The gum heals fully into its new shape over 2–3 weeks. A short review checks the fine stitches and confirms the new line has healed exactly as designed.
How it works
Three stages — from photograph to final.
Consultation & Smile Mapping
We assess your smile in proportion — gum line, tooth length, lip line, and the way it all reads when you smile — to plan exactly where the gum should sit.
Design Preview
We mark the new gum line with some temporary material so you can see and approve the change. No surprises — only a design you've signed off on.
Treatment & Recovery
A single visit under local anaesthetic. With the gentle ceramic shaper there are no stitches, and healing takes 1–2 weeks. For crown lengthening (the surgical option for bigger changes), a few small, almost-invisible stitches support the new line, with recovery over 2–4 weeks. A short review confirms everything looks exactly as designed.
Real patients, Smile Rooms Windsor
Before & after.
01
Gum contouring & bonding
4x gum contouring and 2x natural composite bonding
02
Gummy smile & flared teeth
Invisalign, 4x gum contouring and 6x Hollywood composite bonding — flared teeth and excess gum
03
Gum line, veneers & implants
Gum contouring surgery, 8 porcelain veneers and 2 implants
Individual results vary and are always based on the patient’s wishes. All photos are of Dr. Albert Gajdos’s own patients, displayed with their consent.
Designed together
Pairs beautifully with bonding and veneers.
The most powerful results in cosmetic dentistry come when the gum frame and the tooth design are planned together from the start. A re-contoured gum line gives bonding and veneers a clean, well-proportioned canvas — meaning more conservative tooth preparation, better proportions, and a smile that simply looks right in the way a perfectly framed photograph does.
Invest in yourself
How much does gum shaping cost?
Free consultation (£25 refundable deposit). Gum shaping pairs naturally with composite bonding and porcelain veneers — when the frame and the teeth are designed together, the result is photographic.
Consultation A short visit with Dr. Albert · deposit refundable or put towards treatment
Free
(£25 refundable deposit)
Gum Shaping — single tooth Most popular Per tooth. Gentle ceramic shaper, single visit, local anaesthetic.
From £95
Advanced gum shaping (crown lengthening) Per-tooth gentle surgery for more advanced cases.
From £350
Combined with bonding or veneers When paired with smile design, the gum shaping is integrated into the overall plan and quote.
Quoted together
Want to know more?
Common questions, straight answers.
Does gum shaping hurt?
No. The treatment is done under local anaesthetic, so you won't feel anything during the procedure. Mild tenderness for 2–4 days afterwards is normal and easily managed with regular pain relief.
How long does healing take?
Initial healing takes 3–5 days. The gum line fully settles to its final position over 2–4 weeks. Because we use a precision ceramic shaper, healing is faster and more comfortable than traditional gum surgery.
Will the gum grow back?
No — when designed and performed correctly, the new gum line is permanent. Dr. Albert uses careful pre-treatment mapping to ensure the new line respects the underlying bone, so the result is stable for life.
What's the difference between gum contouring and crown lengthening?
Both reshape the gum line, and the experience is much the same — a single visit under local anaesthetic. Gum contouring is non-surgical: a gentle ceramic shaper (similar to a laser) eases back up to 1 mm of gum, with no stitches and healing in 1–2 weeks — ideal for touch-ups and minor adjustments. Crown lengthening is a gentle gum surgery for more significant changes, reshaping more than 1 mm; it involves a few small, almost-invisible stitches and heals within 2–3 weeks. Dr. Albert advises whichever gives the most natural result for your smile.
Can gum shaping be done with veneers or bonding?
Yes — and often we do. The gum line and the teeth design together is the most powerful combination in cosmetic dentistry. We typically reshape the gum first, let it heal, then design the bonding or veneers around the ideal new frame.
How much does gum shaping cost?
Gum shaping at our Windsor practice starts from £95 per tooth with the gentle ceramic shaper — a single visit under local anaesthetic, and the most popular option for touch-ups and minor adjustments. Advanced gum shaping (crown lengthening), the gentle surgical route for more significant changes, is from £350 per tooth. When it's combined with composite bonding or veneers, the gum shaping is integrated into your overall smile-design plan and quoted together. Your exact price is always confirmed at a consultation with Dr. Albert — free, with a £25 refundable deposit.
Not sure this is the right treatment for you? Start with what's bothering you →
Often combined with:
Reviewed by Dr. Albert Gajdos, GDC No. 256157 Last updated August 2026
Next step
Reframe the smile
that's been waiting.
A short consultation, a designed preview of your new gum line, then a single calm visit. A few weeks later — a smile in proportion.