Gum Contouring

What actually causes a gummy smile?

A gum line that sits low over the teeth rarely has one cause. Some patients have altered passive eruption — the gums never receded to their full adult position, leaving healthy teeth looking short and square. In others, the upper lip lifts unusually high when smiling, years of tooth wear have brought the gum down along with over-erupted teeth, or long-term medications have gradually thickened the tissue. Pinning down which applies to you matters, because it decides whether reshaping the gum alone will fix the proportion — or whether a different approach will serve you better.

How we plan your new gum line

Your first consultation is free. We photograph your smile with intraoral cameras and, for multi-tooth cases, map the proposed gum line in Digital Smile Design so you can preview the change before anything is done. Just as important, 3D CBCT imaging shows us where the underlying bone sits. Gum tissue needs a set distance from bone to stay healthy; remove tissue without checking this and the gum can creep back or stay inflamed. Measuring first is what keeps the result stable — and it is what separates true contouring from simple trimming.

Laser reshaping vs. crown lengthening

Your CBCT scan tells us which column you fall into before treatment begins, not after.

What the appointment feels like

The visit itself takes around 30 minutes per arch under local anesthetic. Following the digital plan, the laser sculpts tissue in fractions of a millimeter while sealing as it works, and you check your new gum line in the mirror before you leave. Most patients describe a day or two of mild tenderness rather than pain, easily managed with over-the-counter relief if needed.

Recovery and aftercare in Dubai

Because our clinic sits on Sheikh Zayed Road, a five-minute walk from World Trade Center Metro, many working patients book this as a lunchtime appointment and return to the office the same day. For the first 24 hours, skip very hot drinks — karak included — along with spicy food and vigorous rinsing; cool water and soft meals are far more comfortable. From day two, add a warm saltwater rinse and brush gently along the treated margin. Air-conditioned indoor life makes recovery here straightforward; nothing about Dubai's climate complicates healing. If tenderness lasts beyond a few days, call us and one of our DHA-licensed dentists will review the area.

Cost, insurance, and payment plans

Gum contouring at Paradise Dental runs AED 2,500–4,500 per arch — the same range published on our pricing page. Where you land within it depends on how many teeth are involved and how much reshaping each one needs. A frank word on insurance: most UAE plans classify gum contouring as cosmetic, so it is rarely reimbursed — though when reshaping forms part of periodontal treatment, cover sometimes applies, and we direct-bill insurers including Daman, AXA, Cigna, Bupa Global, and Allianz Care where it does. Prefer to spread the cost? Interest-free installments are available through Tabby, Tamara, and Postpay, and every case is backed by our 12-month smile guarantee.

When contouring is only half the answer

If your teeth look short because their edges have worn down rather than because gum covers them, reshaping alone leaves you with a better gum line over still-short teeth. Pairing it with porcelain veneers restores proportion from both directions — and completing the gum work first gives the ceramist an exact margin to design against. Where teeth have over-erupted, orthodontics may be the sounder first step. Whatever the findings, we will tell you plainly at your consultation if a laser is not the right tool for your smile.