Why do gums grow back after gum contouring?
When the distance needed between the bone and the gumline is too short, the body moves the gum back up to regain that distance. Above the alveolar bone (the bone supporting the teeth) there is a soft-tissue barrier that attaches to the tooth and keeps out bacteria, and it is commonly considered to need a distance of around 2mm. If a lot of gum is cut and this distance becomes too short, the gumline moves back toward where it was as it heals.
So relapse is seen more often when only the gum is cut at a site where the bone also needed reshaping. If the amount to be cut is large, the bone height needs to be adjusted too so that distance is regained, and then the line moves back less.
What causes a gummy smile?
If about 3mm or more of gum shows when you smile, it is considered excessive gum display, commonly called a gummy smile. “A lot of my gums show every time I smile. Cutting them will fix it, right?” There isn’t just one cause, so it has to be sorted out before cutting.
- When the gum covering the teeth is thick and wide
- When the gum didn’t recede enough after the teeth erupted, making the teeth look short
- When the upper lip is short or rises high when you smile
- When the upper jawbone is long or there is a bite problem
The first two can be improved with gum contouring, but if the lips or jawbone are the cause, cutting only the gums leaves the cause in place.
What’s the difference between gingivectomy and crown lengthening?
They work on different layers. A gingivectomy trims only part of the gum covering the tooth, while crown lengthening reshapes the bone as well to expose more of the tooth when gum alone doesn’t provide enough width.
| Condition | Suitable procedure | Choice to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Only the gum is thick; bone height has room | Align the line with a gingivectomy | Cutting a lot without checking bone height |
| The bone also covers the tooth | Restore the distance with crown lengthening | Cutting only the gum and stopping there |
| Lips, jawbone or bite are the cause | Treatment or orthodontics suited to the cause | Cutting only the gum |
What are the side effects and recovery time of gum contouring?
Initial discomfort usually settles within 1–2 weeks, and it takes longer than that for the gumline to settle. We keep watching after that to see whether the line moves back. If a lot is cut without checking the bone height, inflammation, relapse of the line, gum recession and sensitivity can follow, and if too much bone is removed, the root becomes exposed and sensitive.
Gums and teeth that have been treated once are hard to return exactly to how they were. I tell you first that no procedure has only benefits and no risks.
For some people, adjusting only the gumline makes their smile much more comfortable, while if the gum is cut without identifying the cause, the line tends to move back within a few months. From the patient’s point of view it feels like relapse, but in fact the bone height was often missed in the initial diagnosis.
How we do it at Wonjin Dental
I first work out whether the gum that shows when you smile comes down to the gum tissue, the lips or the bone. If the gum is the cause, we decide between gingivectomy and crown lengthening based on bone height; if the lips or bone are the cause, we don’t cut the gums. If the cause isn’t in the gums and you ask us to cut them, we won’t. Gum contouring is ₩110,000 (as of September 2026, VAT included (cosmetic treatment), all fees).
Frequently asked questions
Does gum contouring hurt a lot?
It is done under anesthesia, so there is usually little pain during the procedure. For a few days after the anesthesia wears off, the gums may sting or feel uncomfortable, so avoid spicy or irritating foods.
Can gum contouring and porcelain veneers be done together?
We consider them together only when the gumline covers the teeth excessively. In that case, the porcelain veneers need to be placed after the gumline has settled so the margins don’t show. More details are in Do you also need gum contouring when getting porcelain veneers?
When can I start brushing after gum contouring?
Areas other than the treated site can be brushed from the same day. For the treated site, start gently with a soft toothbrush from the day you are told.
What is checked before gum contouring?
We look at whether there is gum inflammation, the bone height, how high the lip rises when you smile, and the ratio of tooth length to width. The items to check are summarized in what to check before gum contouring.
