Gum Contouring in Riverview
A smile that looks "too gummy," teeth that appear short and square, or a gumline that sits higher on one tooth than the next — these are all cosmetic concerns we hear about regularly from our Riverview patients, and they often have the same solution. Gum contouring reshapes the soft tissue that frames your teeth, so the proportions of your smile look balanced and intentional. The teeth themselves may be perfectly healthy; it's the gums that are hiding them.
Gum contouring is a procedure in which we carefully remove or reshape excess gum tissue to reveal more of the natural tooth structure underneath and create an even, symmetrical gumline. For some people, that means correcting a single tooth that looks shorter than its neighbor. For others, it means recontouring across several front teeth so the smile reads as proportional from one side to the other.
Uneven gums happen for a variety of reasons. Some people simply inherit a gumline that covers more of the tooth than average. Others develop tissue overgrowth tied to certain medications, hormonal changes, or past inflammation from gum disease. Because the cause matters, we examine the health of your gums first — if there's active gum disease, we address that with treatment such as scaling and root planing or periodontal maintenance before we consider any cosmetic reshaping. Contouring is meant to refine a healthy foundation, not to cover a problem.
It's also worth understanding how contouring differs from a related procedure, crown lengthening, which we also provide. Crown lengthening is often done for functional reasons — exposing more tooth structure so a crown or filling has something solid to hold onto — and may involve reshaping bone as well as tissue. Gum contouring is typically more cosmetic in nature. During your visit, we'll explain which approach fits your situation and why.
Good candidates are patients in generally good oral health who are bothered by the appearance of their gumline. That includes people preparing for other cosmetic work, since contouring frequently pairs with treatments we offer in-house such as porcelain veneers, composite bonding, or crowns. Reshaping the gums first gives those restorations a cleaner frame and a more natural emergence.
Here's what gum contouring can help with:
- Gums that cover too much tooth, creating a "gummy" appearance when you smile
- An uneven gumline where one or two teeth look noticeably shorter
- Excess tissue that makes brushing and flossing around certain teeth harder
- Preparing the smile line before veneers, bonding, or crown work
- Exposing enough healthy tooth structure for a restoration to fit properly
If you've had orthodontic treatment — braces or Invisalign, both of which our board-certified orthodontist provides — you may notice gumline irregularities more once your teeth are aligned. That's a common moment for Riverview patients to ask about contouring, and it's a reasonable one.
What the Appointment Is Like, and How to Heal Well Afterward
We begin with an exam and a conversation about what you want your smile to look like. We'll map out where the new gumline should sit, keeping tooth proportions and your lip line in mind. The area is numbed thoroughly before we begin, and for patients who feel anxious about dental work, we offer nitrous oxide sedation and IV sedation. Comfort is a genuine priority for us — blankets, warm towels, neck pillows, headphones, Netflix, and refreshments are all part of our comfort menu, and they're available during this procedure just like any other.
The reshaping itself is usually completed in a single visit. Afterward, expect some tenderness and swelling as the tissue settles. We'll give you specific instructions: soft foods for a few days, gentle brushing around the treated area, and avoiding anything that irritates healing tissue, like very hot or spicy food. Gums take time to mature into their final shape, so the result you see at a week isn't the final result. We'll follow up to check healing and answer questions. If anything feels off between visits, call us — we keep room for emergency appointments.
Paying for Care Without Guesswork
We accept all major PPO insurance plans and will run a complimentary benefits check so you know where you stand before treatment begins. We also welcome self-pay patients and accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
For Riverview patients without insurance, our in-house membership plan is $199 a year for adults and $99 for anyone 17 and under. It covers exams, X-rays, two cleanings, and two fluoride treatments a year at 100%, with 20% to 50% off other treatment — no deductibles, no annual maximum, no waiting period. CareCredit financing is available as well.
Your consultation is complimentary. Our office is at 22500 Allen Rd. in Woodhaven, a short drive for Riverview families, and se habla español.