Gummy Smile Treatment in Phoenix & North Scottsdale, AZ
 Gummy smile treatment in Phoenix and North Scottsdale, AZ at Jerome Riddle DDS starts with finding out why your gums show so much, because the cause decides the fix. Dentists usually call a smile gummy when more than about 3 mm of gum shows above the upper teeth on a full smile.
When extra gum tissue covers normal-length teeth, we can often reshape it right here with our soft tissue laser through laser gum contouring. When the cause is jaw height or a lip that lifts unusually high, the right treatment comes from a specialist, and we’ll tell you that plainly.
Gummy smile treatment is part of our wider cosmetic dentistry care, so if your gums are only one piece of what you’d like to change, we can plan the rest at the same time.
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What Causes a Gummy Smile?
There’s no single cause. These four come up most often, and plenty of smiles involve more than one:
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Excess gum tissue - Normal-length teeth with extra gum covering them, sometimes tied to inflammation, certain medications, or orthodontic appliances.
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Altered passive eruption - After your adult teeth came in, the gumline never fully moved back to its usual spot, so the teeth look short and boxy.
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Vertical maxillary excess - The upper jaw grew taller than average, which carries the teeth and gums lower on the face.
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Hyperactive upper lip - The muscles that raise your lip pull it higher than usual when you smile. |
At our office on the Phoenix and North Scottsdale border, we measure your smile and review X-rays before recommending anything, because treating the wrong cause wastes your time and money.
Is Gummy Smile Treatment Right for You?
In-office treatment tends to fit when your teeth look short because gum tissue covers them, your gumline is uneven, and your gums are otherwise healthy. Puffy, bleeding gums from gum disease can make teeth look shorter too, so we treat that first through periodontal care.
It usually isn’t the right path when most of your gum display comes from jaw height or lip movement, or when the bone sits so close to the gumline that the bone itself needs reshaping.
Treatment Options Matched to the Cause
Laser gum contouring removes and reshapes extra gum tissue to show more of each tooth. It’s our go-to for soft-tissue excess and for altered passive eruption when the bone level allows it.
Veneers can lengthen the visible surface of short or worn teeth. Porcelain veneers are often paired with contouring, since they change tooth proportions but not where the gumline sits.
Orthodontics may help when the front teeth have come down too far or a deep bite is involved, and Invisalign clear aligners can handle some of these cases.
Specialist referral is the honest answer for vertical maxillary excess, a hyperactive upper lip, or cases that need bone reshaping. We refer those to a periodontist or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and we can still handle any gum or tooth work that’s part of the plan.
Your Gummy Smile Dentists in Phoenix & North Scottsdale
Dr. Jerome Riddle has practiced in the Scottsdale area for more than 20 years, after dental school at USC and a general practice residency at UCLA and VA hospitals. He comprehensively examines and diagnoses each patient before laying out options, and with a gummy smile that step matters most: contouring the gums won’t do much when the real cause is jaw height.
Dr. Eric Johnston, a 2017 graduate of Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, enjoys the artistic side of dentistry as much as the technical side and loves learning new techniques. Gum contouring rewards both, since the goal is a gumline that looks natural next to your lips and teeth.
Your Gummy Smile Treatment, Step by Step
For laser-treatable cases, most patients go from evaluation to a healed gumline in a few weeks.
Step 1: Smile Evaluation (First Visit)
We measure how much gum shows at rest and on a full smile, check how far your upper lip moves, and look at your gum health. Digital X-rays help show where the bone sits, and if veneers or other cosmetic work may be involved, our 3D imaging gives a fuller view of your teeth and gums.
Step 2: A Plan Matched to the Cause (Same Visit or Follow-Up)
We explain which cause, or mix of causes, we see and which options fit. If part of your case calls for a specialist, we say so, explain why, and help you take that next step.
Step 3: Laser Gum Contouring (Usually One Visit)
We numb the area with local anesthesia, then reshape your gumline with our soft tissue laser. Laser cases often don’t need stitches, and many are finished within an hour.
Step 4: Healing (About One Week)
Tenderness and swelling usually fade within three or four days, and most gums heal in about a week. Stick with soft foods and skip hard, crunchy ones for that first week. We check the final shape at a follow-up visit once the tissue has settled.
Step 5: Finishing Touches (After Your Gums Settle)
If veneers or aligners are part of your plan, they come next, built around your new gumline.
Benefits of Gummy Smile Treatment
When treatment matches the cause, the changes are easy to see:
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Longer-looking teeth - More tooth and less gum changes the balance of your whole smile.
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A more even gumline - We even out high and low spots tooth by tooth.
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Less bleeding and swelling - The laser seals tissue as it works, which tends to make the first few days easier.
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Long-lasting results for tissue cases - Once healed, removed gum tissue usually stays gone with good home care.
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One plan for gums and teeth - If you want veneers or whitening too, we sequence everything so each step fits the next. |
Results you’re proud to show off come from the right diagnosis, not the most treatment.
Why Choose Our Office for Gummy Smile Treatment
 We contour gums with our own soft tissue laser here in the office, and the same team that reshapes your gumline can plan veneers, whitening, or aligners around it. A smile design consultation or full smile makeover ties those pieces into one plan instead of separate visits with separate goals.
We’re also straightforward about limits. If your gummy smile comes mostly from jaw height or lip movement, you’ll hear that at your first visit, not after you’ve paid for treatment that can’t fix it. Our E. Chauncey Lane office sits right at the Phoenix and North Scottsdale border, and the 7 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday starts make a quick evaluation easy to fit in before work.
Gummy Smile Treatment Cost and Insurance
The cost of gummy smile treatment comes down to the cause and the plan: how many teeth we contour, whether veneers or aligners are added, and whether part of your care happens with a specialist.
Dental insurance often treats purely cosmetic gum reshaping differently from gum treatment that’s medically necessary, so coverage varies. Our front office can check how your Aetna, Cigna, Delta Dental, or MetLife plan handles each part of your treatment and hand you a detailed fee list before you commit.
Call 480-991-4410 to get your estimate started.
Book Your Gummy Smile Evaluation
Ready to find out what’s behind your gummy smile? Call 480-991-4410 or send us an appointment request. You’ll find us at 7010 E. Chauncey Ln. Suite #140, Phoenix, AZ 85054-3111. Want to ask a question first? Reach our front desk Monday through Thursday.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if my gummy smile comes from my gums or my jaw?
Check your relaxed lips. If gum still shows when you’re not smiling, jaw height may be involved; if your teeth look short and boxy, extra gum tissue is the more likely cause. Measurements and X-rays at an evaluation confirm which one you’re dealing with.
Does laser gum contouring hurt?
The area is numbed, so most people feel pressure rather than discomfort during treatment. Afterward, over-the-counter medicine like ibuprofen or acetaminophen usually handles the tenderness, and most people are back at work or school within a day or two.
Will my gums grow back after contouring?
Usually not. The exceptions are overgrowth driven by inflammation or certain medications, plus smoking or skipped checkups, which can bring tissue back. Keeping up with professional dental cleanings helps protect your result.
Can you treat a gummy smile caused by my upper lip?
Not in our office. Lip-driven gummy smiles are treated by other specialists, and we’re happy to point you toward one. If your case also has a gum or tooth component, we can treat that part here.
Can veneers fix a gummy smile on their own?
Only when short or worn teeth are the main issue. Veneers usually involve removing a thin layer of enamel, which can’t be undone, so we recommend porcelain veneers only when tooth shape is truly part of the problem.
How soon will I see results?
You’ll see a new gumline the same day as contouring, even with some swelling. The final shape shows once the tissue has settled, and veneers, if they’re in your plan, come after that.
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