Does gum recontouring hurt?

In most cases, gum recontouring requires no local anesthesia and causes little to no discomfort during the procedure itself. Patients typically experience mild pressure or warmth — but not pain. For patients with lower pain thresholds or larger areas of tissue being addressed, a topical or local anesthetic can be used. Post-procedure tenderness is mild and typically resolves within two to five days, manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers.

How long does gum recontouring take?

Most gum recontouring procedures are completed in under 30 minutes — often in a single appointment. The exact duration depends on how many teeth are being treated and the extent of tissue being reshaped. Dr. Querishi will give you a realistic time estimate at your consultation based on your specific treatment plan.

Is gum recontouring permanent?

Yes — once gum tissue is removed during recontouring, it does not grow back. The results are permanent. This is why Dr. Querishi takes great care in planning the exact new gumline contour before beginning the procedure — ensuring you are completely satisfied with the planned result before any tissue is removed.

How long is recovery after gum recontouring?

Most patients return to normal activities the same day or the day after their procedure. Mild tenderness and sensitivity typically resolve within two to five days. Complete gum tissue healing takes a few weeks — during which time the gumline settles into its final position and any remaining mild sensitivity resolves. Most patients find the recovery far easier than they anticipated.

Can gum recontouring fix a gummy smile?

In most cases, yes — and it is the most common and effective treatment for a gummy smile caused by excess gum tissue. By removing the tissue covering the upper portion of the tooth, gum recontouring reveals the full natural length of the tooth and dramatically improves the proportion of gum to tooth visible when smiling. Seven Bridges Dental Studio will evaluate the specific cause of your gummy smile at your consultation to confirm whether recontouring is the most appropriate solution.

Can I get gum recontouring before veneers?

Absolutely — and in many cases, Seven Bridges Dental Studio recommends doing exactly that. Performing gum recontouring before veneer placement allows the restorations to be designed to the precise proportions of the newly revealed tooth surfaces — ensuring the most harmonious, proportionate, and aesthetically refined final result. The gum tissue is allowed to heal fully before veneer preparation begins.

Does insurance cover gum recontouring?

Coverage depends on whether the procedure is being performed for cosmetic or clinical reasons. Gum recontouring performed purely for cosmetic improvement — such as correcting a gummy smile — is typically not covered by dental insurance. Crown lengthening performed for clinical reasons — such as exposing sufficient tooth structure for a crown — may be partially covered as it is considered a medically necessary restorative procedure. Our team will verify your benefits before your appointment and provide a transparent breakdown of any applicable coverage.

Gum Recontouring in Woodridge, IL

At Seven Bridges Dental Studio, Dr. Querishi uses precise gum recontouring techniques to reshape an uneven or excessive gumline, creating a more balanced, proportionate smile that lets your teeth take center stage.

Young man smiling confidently with even gum line after gum recontouring treatment

Your Gumline Shapes Your Smile More Than You Think

When most people think about improving their smile, they focus on their teeth, whitening them, straightening them, or restoring them. But the gumline plays an equally important role in the overall appearance of your smile. A gumline that sits too high, too low, or unevenly across different teeth can make perfectly healthy teeth look short, small, or mismatched and no amount of whitening or cosmetic work will fully address it.

Gum recontouring, also called gum reshaping, is a precise, minimally invasive procedure that removes or reshapes excess gum tissue to expose more of the natural tooth surface, creating a more balanced and proportionate smile. At Seven Bridges Dental Studio, Dr. Querishi performs gum recontouring with a gentle, detail-oriented approach and in most cases, the entire procedure is completed in under 30 minutes with little to no discomfort.

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What is Gum Recontouring?

Gum recontouring is a cosmetic and sometimes restorative dental procedure in which excess or uneven gum tissue is carefully removed and reshaped to improve the appearance of the smile or expose more tooth structure for clinical purposes.

The gumline frames every tooth and when it covers too much of the tooth surface, the result is what's commonly called a "gummy smile." Teeth appear short, stubby, or disproportionate, not because of the teeth themselves, but because of how much of them is actually visible. Gum recontouring corrects this by precisely removing the excess tissue and revealing the full natural crown of the tooth beneath.

Depending on your particular smile needs, our Woodridge, IL dentist may recommend gum recontouring if:

Your teeth appear to be "short," or particular teeth appear to be smaller than others.
As part of a dental veneer case or smile makeover.
There isn't enough tooth exposed for a crown placement.
Medication that results in tissue overgrowth.
Thicker gum tissues in specific areas, after orthodontic treatment.

What to Expect During Your Gum Recontouring Appointment

1

Consultation & Treatment Planning

Dr. Querishi evaluates your gumline, photographs your smile, and discusses your aesthetic goals in detail. She'll explain exactly which areas of tissue will be addressed, how much tooth surface will be revealed, and what the final result will look like, ensuring your expectations are fully aligned before the procedure begins.

2

Marking the New Gumline

Before any tissue is removed, Dr. Querishi carefully marks the planned new gumline on the teeth, giving you a visual preview of the result and allowing for any final adjustments to the design before treatment begins.

3

Gentle Tissue Removal

Using a soft tissue laser or fine surgical instruments, Dr. Querishi precisely removes and reshapes the excess gum tissue along the planned contour. The procedure is performed with meticulous attention to symmetry, proportion, and the natural architecture of the gumline. In most cases, local anesthesia is not required, most patients experience only mild pressure or warmth during the procedure.

4

Immediate Results

Unlike many dental procedures, the results of gum recontouring are visible immediately. As soon as the excess tissue is removed, the newly exposed tooth surfaces are revealed and the transformation to the smile's balance and proportion is apparent right away.

5

Recovery & Aftercare

Most patients experience minimal discomfort after gum recontouring, typically mild tenderness and sensitivity that resolves within a few days. Dr. Querishi will provide detailed aftercare instructions to support healing and protect the treated tissue in the days following the procedure.

Gum Recontouring as Part of Your Complete Smile Transformation

At Seven Bridges Dental Studio, gum recontouring is frequently performed as the foundational first step in a comprehensive smile makeover, before veneers, crowns, or bonding are placed. This sequencing is intentional and important: reshaping the gumline first ensures that every subsequent restoration is designed and placed to complement the new gumline architecture, maximizing the aesthetic harmony and long-term health of the final result.

When veneers are planned, for example, performing gum recontouring beforehand allows Dr. Querishi to design each veneer to the precise proportions of the newly revealed tooth, creating a seamlessly balanced smile where teeth, gums, and restorations all work together as a unified whole.

If you are considering a smile makeover at Seven Bridges Dental Studio, Dr. Querishi will evaluate whether gum recontouring should be incorporated into your plan and explain exactly how it would contribute to the overall result.

Ready to See More of Your Smile?

If you've been self-conscious about a gummy smile, uneven gumline, or teeth that look too short, gum recontouring at Seven Bridges Dental Studio may be the simple, quick solution you've been looking for. Dr. Querishi and our team are welcoming new patients and would love to show you what a difference this procedure can make.

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Serving patients in Woodridge, Darien, Lisle, Bolingbrook & surrounding communities

Frequently Asked Questions About Gum Recontouring

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