A gummy smile can leave you feeling self-conscious every time you laugh, speak, or pose for a photo, even when your teeth themselves look healthy and well cared for. If your gum line sits lower than you would like, or if uneven tissue makes your smile look shorter or less balanced than you want, gum contouring may offer a way to reshape that gum line and reveal more of your natural tooth structure.
At Harmony Cosmetic Dentistry and Implants, we offer gum contouring, also called gingivectomy, as one of the cosmetic procedures available through our periodontist services. Dr. Haider Alramli, DDS, MS, is a board-certified periodontist and implant surgeon who trained at Loma Linda University, with a background treating gum tissue that spans routine gum disease care to advanced cosmetic reshaping. Our practice is new to the Magnolia community, opening in 2026, and we built our approach around comprehensive diagnosis so that every gum contouring plan starts with an honest look at what is actually causing your smile concerns.
Gum contouring is a procedure that reshapes the gum tissue around your teeth to create a more even, proportionate smile line. Depending on your goals, we may remove small amounts of excess tissue, smooth an uneven gum line, or adjust tissue that sits too high or too low relative to your teeth.
This is different from a full gum graft, which is generally used to add tissue back in areas of gum recession rather than reshape existing tissue for cosmetic balance. Many patients confuse the two, so we always start with an exam to determine which approach actually fits your situation, and in some cases a combination of gum contouring with crown lengthening gives the most natural-looking result when a tooth also appears short.
A gummy smile, also known clinically as excessive gingival display, is more common than most people realize, and research helps explain why it shows up so differently from patient to patient. A 2024 cross-sectional study published in the Saudi Dental Journal found that altered passive eruption, where gum tissue fails to recede fully as teeth erupt, was the most common underlying cause among patients seeking treatment, and more than half of participants had more than one contributing factor at once.
That finding matters because it means gum contouring is rarely a one-size-fits-all fix. A hypermobile upper lip, a naturally shorter lip, or the underlying bone and tooth proportions can all play a role alongside the gum tissue itself. We take the time to identify which of these factors apply to you before recommending a treatment plan, which may include gum contouring on its own or in combination with other periodontal procedures.
Gum contouring is typically a straightforward, in-office procedure performed under local anesthesia, and most patients are comfortable and able to return to normal activities within a short recovery window. We may use a laser or traditional surgical instruments depending on the extent of reshaping needed, and for patients who feel anxious about dental procedures, we also offer sedation options to make treatment more comfortable.
Before any procedure, we walk through the full process with you, including what the healing timeline generally looks like and how to care for your gums afterward. We also review pricing ranges upfront, since cosmetic gum work is an investment and we believe patients deserve clarity before committing to treatment. Many patients also ask whether laser therapy is an option, and for those interested in a more advanced laser-based approach to gum health, we offer LANAP laser gum therapy as part of our broader periodontal services.
Adult patients who are otherwise in good oral health are typically good candidates for gum contouring, whether the goal is purely cosmetic or tied to a functional concern like uneven tissue that makes cleaning certain areas more difficult. Because gum contouring reshapes existing tissue, it is best suited for patients who have enough healthy gum tissue to work with in the first place.
If you have areas of gum recession rather than excess tissue, gum grafting may be the more appropriate procedure, and we will always steer you toward the treatment that actually addresses your specific presentation rather than assuming one approach fits everyone. Patients who are already working with a general dentist in the Magnolia area for routine care can still come to us specifically for periodontal and cosmetic gum procedures like this one, since we focus on the specialty side of care rather than replacing the relationship you have with your existing dental team.
Choosing to move forward with a cosmetic gum procedure starts with an honest conversation about what your smile needs and what results are realistic for your specific anatomy. Dr. Haider Alramli’s training in periodontics and implant surgery, combined with our practice’s emphasis on identifying the true cause of a smile concern before recommending treatment, means you get a plan built around your actual presentation rather than a generic recommendation.
If you have been considering gum contouring and want to know whether it is the right fit for your smile, we welcome you to reach out through our contact form to schedule a consultation. We look forward to helping you feel more confident every time you smile.
Located in Magnolia, TX
Mon - Sat: 8AM to 5PM Sun: Closed
