Gum Contouring in Woodhaven
A smile can have perfectly healthy, well-shaped teeth and still look "off" because of the gum line. Maybe your front teeth look short and square, maybe one tooth's gum sits noticeably higher than its neighbor, or maybe a full smile shows more pink than you'd like. Gum contouring addresses exactly that — reshaping the gum tissue so the frame around your teeth is even, proportional, and flattering. At our office on Allen Rd. in Woodhaven, we treat gum contouring as a detail-oriented cosmetic and restorative procedure, planned tooth by tooth with the rest of your smile in mind.
Gum contouring, sometimes called gum reshaping, is the careful removal or sculpting of excess gum tissue to reveal more of the natural tooth structure underneath. It's a conservative procedure: we're adjusting soft tissue, not altering healthy enamel. The goal is symmetry and balance — a gum line that follows a natural, even curve across the smile instead of dipping, bunching, or sitting too low on certain teeth.
People come to us for this for different reasons. Some have a gummy smile, where the upper lip rises high and exposes a wide band of tissue. Others have uneven gum heights after orthodontic treatment, or tissue that has crept over a tooth and makes it look stubby. Gum contouring is also used alongside restorative work — when we're placing porcelain veneers, composite bonding, or a crown, reshaping the tissue first can mean a far more natural-looking final result. In cases where more tooth structure needs to be exposed to properly support a restoration, the procedure overlaps with crown lengthening, which we also provide here.
Good candidates generally have healthy gums and stable oral health. Because of that, our first step is never the laser or the scalpel — it's an exam. We look at gum health, probe for pocketing, check bone levels, and screen for signs of gum disease. If we find active inflammation, scaling and root planing or other periodontal treatment comes first, since reshaping tissue that's already infected won't hold up well. Patients who've had gum recession rather than overgrowth may be better served by gum grafting, which adds tissue instead of removing it. We'll tell you honestly which direction makes sense.
We see patients of all ages at our Woodhaven practice, and gum contouring questions tend to come from adults finishing orthodontic treatment, patients planning cosmetic work, and people who have simply never liked how much gum shows when they laugh. Because we offer a complimentary consultation, you can sit down with one of our five doctors, see what's realistic, and leave with a plan and a cost estimate before committing to anything.
What the Procedure and Recovery Look Like
Treatment is typically completed in a single visit. We numb the area thoroughly, mark the planned new gum line so you know exactly what to expect, and then sculpt the tissue to that contour. Most patients are surprised by how straightforward it feels. For anyone who gets anxious in the chair, we offer nitrous oxide sedation and IV sedation, and our comfort menu — blankets, warm towels, neck pillows, headphones, Netflix and refreshments — is available during any appointment.
Here's what patients can generally expect around the procedure:
- A consultation and full exam to confirm gum health before anything is scheduled
- Local anesthetic, with nitrous oxide or IV sedation available if you'd like it
- Tenderness and mild swelling for a few days as the tissue settles
- Soft foods, gentle brushing near the treated area, and rinsing as directed
- A follow-up visit so we can check healing and confirm the new contour looks right
Aftercare is simple but matters. Avoid crunchy or spicy foods early on, keep the area clean, and don't skip your follow-up. Gum tissue settles over several weeks, so if your contouring is a prelude to veneers, bonding, or a crown, we'll wait for the tissue to mature before finalizing those restorations. Our in-house dental lab makes that coordination easier — restorations are fabricated and adjusted right here rather than shipped out and back.
Paying for Treatment in Woodhaven
We accept all major PPO insurance plans and offer a complimentary insurance benefits check, so you'll know what's covered before treatment. Coverage varies depending on whether contouring is cosmetic or tied to a restorative need, and we'll walk you through that distinction.
Self-pay patients are welcome. We offer CareCredit financing and an in-house membership plan — $199 a year for ages 18 and up, $99 for 17 and younger — with no annual maximum, deductibles, waiting periods, or pre-authorizations. It covers exams, X-rays, two cleanings and two fluoride treatments at 100%, plus 20% to 50% off other treatment. We accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Se habla español.