If your gums show too much when you smile, or if uneven gum lines make your teeth appear different lengths, gum contouring can create dramatic improvement in a single appointment. At Dental Sedation Ottawa, we use advanced laser technology to reshape gum tissue precisely and comfortably—with sedation options available to ensure a completely anxiety-free experience.
Gum contouring, also called gum reshaping, gum lift, or gingivectomy, is a cosmetic dental procedure that removes excess gum tissue and reshapes the gum line to improve your smile's appearance. Using a specialized dental laser, we carefully sculpt away excess tissue to reveal more of your natural tooth structure, creating a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing smile.
Think of it as hemming pants that are too long—we're not changing your teeth, just adjusting how much shows. The difference can be dramatic, especially for people with "gummy smiles" where excessive gum tissue dominates the appearance, making teeth look short and childish even though the teeth underneath are perfectly normal size.
Modern laser gum contouring offers significant advantages over traditional scalpel surgery. Laser energy precisely vaporizes tissue while simultaneously cauterizing (sealing) blood vessels, meaning minimal bleeding, faster healing, less discomfort, and lower infection risk. Most patients experience surprisingly little pain afterward—nothing like the recovery from traditional gum surgery.
Ready to learn more? Schedule a consultation today.
Laser gum contouring requires only local anesthesia to numb the gums—the laser itself causes no pain. However, for patients with dental anxiety, needle phobia, or when combining gum work with other cosmetic procedures, we offer comprehensive sedation options.
Mild, pleasant relaxation that reduces anxiety about injections and makes the procedure feel shorter. You remain fully aware but calm. Effects wear off within minutes so you can drive home immediately. Perfect for isolated gum contouring procedures. Learn more about nitrous oxide
Prescribed medication taken before treatment creates moderate drowsiness and significant anxiety reduction. Ideal when combining gum contouring with other cosmetic work (bonding, veneers, whitening) or for patients with moderate dental anxiety. You'll need transportation home. Explore oral sedation
Provides deep, continuous sedation throughout your appointment. Most patients have minimal awareness and little to no memory of procedures. Perfect for extensive gum reshaping affecting many teeth or when gum contouring is part of comprehensive smile makeover. Discover IV sedation
Complete sleep administered by our board-certified medical anesthesiologists (Dr. Hesham Talab, MD MSc PhD FRCPC FASE and Dr. Asad Mirghassemi, MD MSc FRCPC). Zero awareness of treatment. Best for severe dental phobia, extensive full-mouth gum surgery, or complex smile makeovers. Hospital-grade safety in our clinic. Learn about general anesthesia
Combining Multiple Procedures: Many patients choose gum contouring as the first step in a comprehensive smile makeover. With appropriate sedation, we can complete gum reshaping plus teeth whitening, veneer placement, or bonding in a single appointment—dramatically reducing total treatment time and eliminating repeated anxiety.
Questions? We're here to help.
Pre-Treatment Planning (10-15 minutes): Using digital photography and specialized marking techniques, we map out exactly where gum tissue will be removed to create your ideal smile line. This planning is critical—we show you the proposed changes and get your approval before proceeding. You'll understand exactly how much tooth will be exposed and how your gum line will look.
We discuss your aesthetic goals. Some patients want dramatic reduction for maximum tooth exposure; others prefer conservative reshaping for subtle improvement. The right choice depends on your facial proportions, tooth length underneath, and personal preferences.
Anesthesia Application (5-10 minutes): After sedation if desired, we apply topical numbing gel to your gums for 2-3 minutes. Then we administer local anesthetic injections to ensure complete numbness. You'll feel pressure but no pain. Within 5-10 minutes, the area is fully numb and ready for treatment.
Laser Gum Contouring (30-90 minutes depending on extent): Using a specialized dental laser, we carefully and precisely remove excess gum tissue following the planned design. The laser tip passes over the tissue in controlled movements, vaporizing the excess while simultaneously sealing blood vessels.
You'll hear a slight buzzing sound and may notice a faint burning smell (normal with laser tissue removal), but you'll feel no pain—just gentle pressure. There's minimal bleeding thanks to the laser's cauterizing effect.
We work tooth by tooth, frequently rinsing and checking progress. The laser allows incredible precision, removing just 0.5-1mm at a time. We can make minute adjustments, creating perfectly even gum lines or subtle sculpting as desired.
Bone Contouring (if needed): In some cases, the bone underneath the gums also contributes to excess gum display. When necessary, we gently contour the underlying bone to create ideal proportions. This adds time but produces better long-term results.
Final Shaping and Assessment (10-15 minutes): Once the desired amount of tissue is removed, we carefully shape and smooth the new gum line for natural appearance. We clean the area thoroughly, apply protective medication if needed, and verify that you're happy with the results before finishing.
Total procedure time: 30-90 minutes depending on how many teeth are treated and complexity. Simple cases affecting 4-6 teeth take about 30-45 minutes. Extensive full-smile contouring may require 90+ minutes.
Ready to get started?
Your gums will be numb for 2-4 hours after the procedure. Once numbness wears off, you'll experience mild tenderness—most patients describe it as less painful than getting braces tightened. Over-the-counter pain medication (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) typically provides adequate comfort.
Some minor swelling is normal and usually peaks within 24-48 hours. Gums may appear white or pale at first as they heal—this is normal tissue regeneration, not infection. There's minimal bleeding thanks to laser cauterization, though you may notice slight oozing for the first day.
Most patients return to work the next day with minimal discomfort. You'll be able to speak normally and eat soft foods without difficulty.
Results are immediately visible but continue improving as swelling subsides and tissue matures. Your final gum line contour stabilizes within 3-4 weeks.
Gum contouring results are permanent. Tissue doesn't grow back once removed (unlike hair or nails). Your new gum line is your permanent gum line. However, gum disease, aging, or hormonal changes can still affect gum health and appearance over decades, just as they would have without contouring.
Have questions? We'd love to hear from you.
We take X-rays to ensure adequate tooth length underneath gums. If teeth are actually short (not just covered by excess tissue), contouring alone won't help—crowns or veneers to lengthen teeth may be needed instead.
We evaluate your lip movement when smiling. A very high lip line (showing gums even without excess tissue) may require different treatment—sometimes Botox to reduce lip elevation, or in extreme cases, orthognathic surgery to reposition the jaw.
We assess gum health. Active gum disease must be treated before cosmetic gum contouring. Healthy gums heal predictably; diseased gums don't.
If teeth are genuinely short underneath the gums, contouring reveals short teeth—not the improvement you wanted. In these cases, we recommend crowns or veneers to lengthen teeth after or instead of gum work.
If excessive gum display results from vertical maxillary excess (the upper jaw being too long), gum contouring provides only partial improvement. Comprehensive treatment might require orthodontic or surgical jaw repositioning.
We evaluate your specific situation during consultation and recommend the most effective solution—whether that's gum contouring alone, gum contouring plus restorative work, or alternative treatments.
Ready to learn more? Schedule a consultation today.
Gum contouring is frequently performed as part of larger smile makeovers. Common combinations include:
After reshaping gums to expose more tooth, professional whitening brightens the newly visible tooth structure. Perfect for patients wanting both ideal proportions and bright white smiles. Both can be completed in one sedated appointment.
We reshape gums first to create even margins, then place veneers for perfect tooth color and shape. This combination addresses both gum excess and tooth imperfections simultaneously. Results in stunning, uniform smiles.
When placing crowns or bridgework, proper gum position is essential for aesthetic results. We contour gums to create ideal crown margins, ensuring restorations blend naturally with surrounding teeth.
After reshaping gum line, we can use bonding to perfect tooth shapes, close small gaps, or repair chips—creating comprehensive cosmetic improvement with minimal tooth preparation.
With appropriate sedation, these combinations can be completed in 1-2 appointments instead of 4-6 separate visits, dramatically reducing overall treatment time and anxiety.
Gum Contouring: Starting at $300-800 depending on extent
Pricing factors include:
Most dental insurance plans provide limited coverage for gum contouring as it's typically considered cosmetic. However, when performed for functional reasons (like creating proper margins for crowns) or to treat gum disease, partial coverage may apply.
We provide direct billing to major insurance carriers and accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) for eligible patients where applicable.
$300-800
$700-1,400
$7,500-12,800
$200-400 every 3-4 mo
(not permanent)
Gum contouring provides permanent results with a one-time cost. While the procedure may seem expensive, when you calculate cost-per-year over a lifetime of improved smile proportions, it becomes remarkably affordable. Many patients report that correcting their gummy smile was life-changing—affecting confidence, career advancement, and social comfort.
Our patients consistently rate us 5 stars for gentle, anxiety-free care. Read verified patient experiences on Google.
View All Reviews on GoogleDentist Referrals Welcome: We collaborate with referring dentists throughout Ottawa and Eastern Ontario for cosmetic sedation cases.
