Gum Contouring
Phoenix & North Scottsdale
 If your gum line is uneven, your teeth look short because the gums cover too much of them, or you simply want a more balanced smile, Jerome Riddle DDS offers laser gum contouring in Phoenix, AZ. Gum contouring uses a soft tissue laser to reshape the gum line, evening out asymmetries and exposing more of the tooth surface for a brighter, more proportional smile.
The procedure is one of the most direct ways to change how your smile looks without touching the teeth themselves, and it pairs naturally with veneers, whitening, or a full cosmetic dentistry plan. Most patients are surprised at how quickly the visit goes and how short the recovery is.
If your uneven gum line is caused by tooth position rather than the gums themselves, or you have signs of periodontal disease, gum contouring is not the right starting point. We will tell you that during the consultation rather than recommend a procedure that does not address the underlying issue.
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What Is Gum Contouring?
Gum contouring (also called gingival contouring or a "gum lift") is the cosmetic reshaping of the gum line with a soft tissue laser. The laser removes excess gum tissue precisely, leaving the underlying tooth and bone untouched, to create a more even or proportional smile.
It is a cosmetic procedure first. The functional benefit, when it exists, is making it easier to clean an area where the gum margin had been irregular, but most of our gum contouring patients come in for the appearance reason alone.
Are You a Good Candidate for Gum Contouring?
The right candidate has soft-tissue-driven gum asymmetry that can be corrected with reshaping alone. Common situations:
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Uneven gum line where individual teeth look longer or shorter than their neighbors
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Gummy smile where the gums cover too much of the tooth surface, especially when smiling broadly
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Asymmetric gum margins after orthodontic treatment, where the teeth are aligned but the gums did not follow
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Pre-veneer gum reshaping, where the gum line needs to be evened before veneers are placed for the best aesthetic result
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Mild discrepancies between the central incisors and laterals that throw off smile symmetry |
There are several situations where gum contouring is not the right starting point, and we will say so during the consultation. If your "long teeth" are caused by tooth position rather than gum coverage, the issue is usually orthodontic. If your gum line is irregular because of recession or active periodontal disease, the path is periodontal care first, not cosmetic reshaping. And if your gummy smile is driven by the muscle pattern of how your upper lip lifts, gum contouring alone will not solve it. The honest evaluation upfront saves you the cost and time of a procedure that would not deliver what you want.
Your Cosmetic Care Team in Phoenix
Dr. Jerome Riddle has been performing cosmetic dentistry in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area for more than two decades. His bio page covers his GPR residency at the UCLA and VA hospitals along with the careful, patient-paced approach he is known for chairside. Gum contouring rewards a steady hand and careful eye for symmetry, both of which make a measurable difference in the final result.
Dr. Eric Johnston works alongside Dr. Riddle and graduated from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in 2017. More on his bio page.
Your Gum Contouring Procedure, Step by Step
 Gum contouring is typically a single-visit procedure that takes 30 to 90 minutes depending on how many teeth are being addressed. The visit moves through five steps.
Smile Evaluation and Planning
Before any laser work happens, we evaluate your current gum line, take photos and intraoral images, and mark the targeted contour. We use a periodontal probe to confirm there is enough attached gum tissue to reshape safely, and we measure the bone level under the gum to make sure we stay above it. We finalize the plan before the laser turns on.
Numbing the Treatment Area
We apply a topical anesthetic first, followed by local anesthesia at the gum margin if more than light reshaping is needed. Most patients describe the laser portion as warmth and pressure rather than discomfort. The numbing wears off within a couple of hours after the visit.
Laser Reshaping
Using our soft tissue laser, we remove the excess gum tissue precisely along the planned contour. The laser cuts and seals tissue at the same time, which is why bleeding is minimal and stitches are usually unnecessary. Our soft tissue laser is also used at our office for periodontal therapy and crown lengthening, which means it is part of our day-to-day practice rather than a procedure done once a month.
Refining the Contour
After the bulk reshaping, we refine the edges and check the line of symmetry from your perspective. A handheld mirror at this stage lets you confirm the result while we can still adjust. Small refinements at this point are far easier than after the tissue has healed.
Post-Procedure Instructions
We send you home with a soft-food guideline for a few days, a saltwater rinse routine, and instructions to avoid vigorous brushing of the treated area for about a week. Most patients return to normal activity the same day. The treated tissue heals to its final contour over two to three weeks.
Benefits of Gum Contouring
 The most direct benefit of gum contouring is what people see when you smile. A symmetrical gum line is one of the underrated elements of an attractive smile, and small adjustments can shift the perception of your teeth from "uneven" to "balanced" without ever touching the teeth. We plan the contour against full-face photos and the intraoral-camera images so the final symmetry is judged from where people actually see your smile, not just from the dental chair perspective.
For most patients, the results are essentially permanent. Soft tissue removed by a laser does not regrow under normal conditions, so the contour we create is the contour you keep. Some minor settling of gum tissue can occur in the first few months as healing finishes, which is why we tend to plan conservatively the first time and refine if needed at a follow-up visit.
The aesthetic combinations gum contouring enables:
- Better veneer outcomes – When dental veneers are planned, evening the gum line first ensures the veneers sit at consistent visible heights, which is more flattering than identical veneers under uneven gums.
- Brighter results after whitening – A longer visible tooth surface from gum contouring magnifies the brightness gain from teeth whitening.
- Cleaner Smile Makeover plans – Gum contouring is often a starting step in a Smile Makeover plan that may also include veneers, whitening, and bonding.
- Mild gummy-smile correction – When the gummy appearance is driven by gum coverage rather than upper-lip movement, contouring alone delivers the change patients are looking for.
- Touch-up for orthodontic results – Aligning teeth often leaves the gum line uneven, and contouring is the finishing step.
The improvements show up in photos almost immediately. We keep the before-photos in your chart so the change is documented for your own reference, not just felt, and most patients see the final contour within a few weeks of the visit. The smile they thought they could not have without veneers turns out to be reachable with gum reshaping alone in some cases.
Why Choose Our Phoenix Office for Gum Contouring
Jerome Riddle DDS is a cosmetic-led general practice, and the soft tissue laser is one of the technologies we use the most. The same laser is part of our day-to-day work across periodontal therapy, crown lengthening, and aesthetic gum reshaping, which means the technique is calibrated, the operator is comfortable with the tool, and you get a more predictable result.
Our consultation process matters here. We use the intraoral camera to show you what your gum line looks like now and what we are proposing to change, on a screen, before any treatment happens. Many patients want a smaller adjustment than they imagined or a larger one, and the side-by-side view changes the conversation. For larger plans that combine gum contouring with veneers or whitening, we use smile design consultations to model the final result before any procedures are scheduled.
Beyond the technology, the philosophy is conservative. We start with the smallest change that delivers the result you are looking for, not the most dramatic. Symmetry and proportion matter more than how much tissue is removed. When less is enough, less is what we do.
Gum Contouring Cost and Insurance
Cost is a fair question for any cosmetic procedure. The cost of gum contouring depends on how many teeth are being addressed and whether the work is done as a standalone procedure or part of a larger cosmetic plan. Reshaping the gum line on the four front teeth is a smaller fee than full-arch contouring across both front and side teeth.
Dental insurance typically does not cover gum contouring when the indication is purely cosmetic. The exception is when the procedure is medically necessary, for example to access decay near the gum line or to remove tissue that prevents proper hygiene, in which case partial coverage may apply. Our front office checks your specific coverage and the procedure code before treatment. More on our insurance and financing options.
For patients combining gum contouring with veneers or a full smile makeover, payment plans are available. We give you a per-tooth estimate at the consultation so the cost is clear before any treatment is scheduled.
Schedule Your Gum Contouring Consultation
If you have wondered whether gum contouring would change the smile you have been thinking about, the place to start is a consultation. Call Jerome Riddle DDS at 480-991-4410 or request an appointment online. We’re at 7010 E. Chauncey Ln. Suite #140 in Phoenix, AZ 85054. You can also contact us with any questions before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is gum contouring painful?
No. The treatment area is fully numbed before the laser begins, and the laser itself produces a sensation most patients describe as warmth and pressure rather than pain. Because the laser cuts and seals tissue at the same time, post-procedure soreness is significantly less than scalpel-based gum surgery. Most patients take only over-the-counter pain relief for the first 24 hours, if anything.
How long does recovery take after gum contouring?
Most patients return to normal activity the same day, with light tenderness peaking around day three and gone by the end of the first week. The visible contour finishes settling at around two to three weeks, which is when we usually take the post-procedure photos. Patients combining gum contouring with veneers add about four to six weeks to the total timeline because we wait for the gum line to fully stabilize before taking veneer impressions.
Will my gums grow back after gum contouring?
Generally no. The reshaping is permanent for most patients. The exception worth knowing about: in patients with active gum disease or significant gum recession over time, the gum line can shift up or down independent of the original contouring. That is why we screen periodontal health before scheduling the procedure rather than after. A small touch-up is rare but possible if the original plan was conservative.
Can gum contouring be done in the same visit as veneers?
Sometimes, but more often we stage it. Doing the gum contouring first, then waiting four to six weeks for the gum line to fully settle, then taking the dental veneers impressions ensures the veneers sit at the corrected gum margin rather than the original one. Same-visit work is appropriate only for very minor reshaping. The staging approach delivers a cleaner final result for anything more involved.
Will dental insurance cover gum contouring?
Usually no, since the procedure is most often performed for cosmetic reasons. The exception is when the contouring is medically necessary, for example to access decay near the gum line or to remove tissue that prevents proper hygiene. In those cases, partial coverage may apply. Our front office team verifies your specific plan and the procedure code before treatment so the coverage picture is clear up front. More on our insurance and financing options.
How long do the results of gum contouring last?
For most patients, the results are essentially permanent. The reshaped contour stays in place because soft tissue removed with a laser does not regenerate under normal conditions. The exceptions are patients with periodontal disease (which causes gum loss over time) or significant weight loss or gain that affects facial soft tissue, both of which can change the gum line independent of the procedure.
What is the difference between gum contouring and crown lengthening?
Gum contouring is purely soft tissue reshaping, with the underlying bone left untouched. Crown lengthening typically involves both gum and bone reshaping to expose more of the tooth, and is done either to access a cavity below the gum line or to dramatically increase visible tooth length. Cosmetic gum contouring is what most patients want, while surgical crown lengthening with bone work is a more involved procedure handled by a periodontist when needed. We perform soft-tissue contouring at our office; for cases that need bone reshaping, we refer to periodontal care specialists.
Will my smile look "fake" or noticeably different?
No, when done conservatively. The goal of gum contouring is symmetry and proportion, not dramatic change, and most cases involve removing 1 to 2 millimeters of gum tissue at most. The result is a more balanced smile that looks natural rather than an obvious cosmetic alteration. We use an intraoral camera and side-by-side comparison during the planning stage so you know exactly what to expect before the laser turns on.
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