Gummy smile treatment
Treat yourself to a captivating smile
Gum Contouring
If you’ve been self-conscious about your ‘gummy’ smile or uneven gum line, a gum lift procedure or gum contouring might be the solution you’ve been looking for. At Dental + Skin, we understand the power of a perfect smile and have been enhancing smiles across with our specialised gummy smile laser treatment.
Combining modern technology, professional knowledge, and a commitment to patient care, we’ve made it our mission to give you a balanced, natural-looking smile through our gummy smile treatment in Melbourne.
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What is a gummy smile?
A gummy smile is where the smile is showing too much pink (i.e. the gums) and not enough white (i.e the teeth). It is when our smile is showing an excessive amount of gum tissue and quite often the teeth appear too short. Most people prefer a balanced smile where there is just the right amount of gum and teeth showing when we smile. If your smile is showing more of your gum than your teeth, it’s understandable that you might want to rectify that. Our goal is to create a more balanced and naturally-looking smile by simply adjusting your gum area.
What causes a gummy smile?
There are many factors that contribute to a gummy smile, with genetics playing an influential role. Like most things about ourselves, genetics can play a part in determining the shape and size of your teeth, gums and lips.
Here are a few key reasons to help you better understand why people show more gum than others when they smile.
- A hyperactive top lip: If the muscles controlling the movement of the upper lip are overactive, it can result in the lip rising too high when smiling, showing more gum tissue.
- An excess of gum tissue: Having too much gum tissue covering the teeth can lead to a gummy smile.
- Short top lip: Some individuals have a shorter upper lip, which may not fully cover the gums when smiling, revealing more of the gum line.
- Small or short teeth: In proportion to the gums, having smaller or shorter teeth can make the gums appear more prominent when smiling.
- Abnormal tooth eruption: Occasionally, teeth may erupt improperly, causing them to appear shorter than usual and allowing more gum tissue to be visible.
- Crooked top teeth: Crooked or misaligned top teeth and jaw can affect the positioning of the lips and gums, contributing to a gummy smile.
- Bone structure: The underlying bone structure of the upper jaw can also influence how much gum tissue is visible when smiling.
Gum lift / contouring before and after
Please explore our gummy smile laser treatment ‘before and after’ photos below. These results have been obtained by gum lifting or gum contouring. Bear in mind that results may vary for each individual.
Many clients choose to combine a few procedures for the ultimate smile makeover. Porcelain and composite veneers, dental implants and dental crowns all serve specific purposes in helping to restore your teeth, while leaving you with the perfect smile you can wear with pride. A comprehensive evaluation by a member of our dental team is essential to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for you.
LOOKING FOR A GUM LIFT?
What are the types of gummy smile treatments?
If you’re particularly self-conscious about your smile, the good news is there are a few gummy smile treatments available. A gum lift treatment is a dental procedure that reshapes the gum line to expose more of your pearly whites. The goal is to create a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing smile. At Dental + Skin Clinic, we offer a range of approaches to help create a smile you’ll be proud to show off to the world, with the most popular treatments being gum lifting and gum contouring. You may be curious as to what these procedures entail, so we’ll explain each of these to you below, helping you make an informed decision about what path you want to choose to rectify your gummy smile.
What is a gum lift?
A gum lift (also known as a gingivectomy or esthetic crown lengthening in the treatment of gummy smile) is a cosmetic dental procedure that strategically reshapes your gum line. The process involves removing or reshaping the excess gum tissue around your teeth. Minimally invasive and precise, the treatment is usually completed via our advanced pen laser technology, as it is less painful and offers a faster recovery time compared to traditional surgery methods.
What’s gum contouring?
Gum contouring (or gum reshaping) is an alternative to a gum lift, and involves trimming and reshaping the excess gum tissue around your teeth. Using a modern, state-of-the-art pen laser technique, we expose more of your tooth’s crown by cutting and contouring your gum tissue.
Before we begin either treatment, we will consider your facial features and proportions before we determine the best approach to enhancing your smile.
Is gummy smile treatment right for me?
Gummy smile treatment may be right for you if you’re self-conscious about showing too much gum when you smile and you’re after a more balanced appearance. Whether you have a gummy smile, your gums are an uneven height, or your teeth are short, our reshaping procedure can help discover a brand new you. However, just like all treatments, we’ll need to conduct a thorough exam of your teeth, gums and mouth to ensure they’re in good oral health before proceeding. This ensures your gummy smile treatment will be effective, and reduce any risk of complications.
If you’ve been searching for ‘gummy smile treatment near me’, your journey begins and ends here at Dental + Skin Clinic. Let our professional and highly trained dentist transform your smile.
Benefits of a gummy smile treatment
A captivating smile can be a game-changer. It’s your first impression, your lasting impression, and something that can boost your confidence. So, it makes sense to want to enhance a feature that’s on display 24/7. The following benefits might just help you make up your mind:
Improved aesthetics:
Treatment can enhance the appearance of your smile by reducing the visibility of excessive gum tissue and creating a more balanced ratio of teeth to gums.
Enhanced oral health:
Removing excess gum tissue can make it easier to clean your teeth and gums properly, reducing the risk of gum disease and other oral health issues.
Functional improvement:
In cases where misalignment or malocclusion contributes to a gummy smile, treatment can improve the function of your bite and overall oral function.
Long-term stability:
Many gummy smile treatments provide long-lasting results, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of your improved smile for years to come.
Social and professional advantages:
A confident smile can have a positive impact on social interactions and professional opportunities, as you may feel more comfortable expressing yourself and engaging with others.
Personal satisfaction:
Achieving a smile that you feel proud to show off can bring a sense of personal satisfaction and happiness.
Show off your smile with the latest in gum treatment technology
At Dental & Skin Clinic, we employ state-of-the-art technology and a team of highly skilled dentists to perform our gum lift surgery. We first conduct a detailed analysis of your dental structure and design a personalised treatment plan for your unique smile transformation. The procedure itself is quick, minimally invasive, and carried out under local anaesthesia, ensuring your comfort throughout the whole process.
Alternatives to gum lift laser treatment for fixing a gummy smile
There are several treatments for a gummy smile, and they can be used in conjunction with each other to help you achieve your desired results. Our gummy smile treatment options include the following:
Dental veneers or crowns:
Porcelain veneers or crowns can be used to lengthen the appearance of the teeth, covering more of the gums and creating a more aesthetic smile. This is often done in combination with gum lift laser.
Cosmetic injectables:
This is a non-invasive treatment where the muscles controlling the movement of the top lip are strategically weakened with injectable treatment. This treatment lasts approximately 4 months before it needs to get topped-up.
Lip repositioning surgery:
This surgical procedure involves adjusting the position of the upper lip to cover more of the gums when smiling, reducing the visibility of the gum line.
Orthodontic treatment:
Braces or clear aligners can be used to correct tooth and jaw alignment issues that contribute to a gummy smile. Our gummy smiles braces treatment effectively addresses any such alignment issues.
Maxillofacial surgery:
In severe cases where the underlying bone structure contributes to the gummy smile, orthognathic surgery may be necessary to reposition the upper jaw.
Gummy smile treatment cost
We know you’re looking for a straightforward response to, “How much does laser gum surgery cost in Australia?”, and we’re here to provide just that. At Dental + Skin Clinic, our gummy smile treatment prices are fixed at $1000, regardless of the number of teeth needed for the gum lift. If there are other costs included, such as consultations, x-rays or follow-up appointments, our dentists will provide a detailed breakdown at your consultation. A $90 deposit will be required to secure your booking, but it can be redeemable on any cosmetic dentistry procedure in our clinic.
We understand that the gummy smile laser treatment cost can be confronting. That’s why we provide various financing options and payment plans, having partnered with Afterpay, Access My Super, Supercare, Humm, and HICAPS to ease any financial burden. Our aim is to help you achieve your perfect smile without compromising your financial health because everyone deserves a smile they can be proud to reveal.
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Frequently Asked Porcelain Veneers Questions
A gum lift is a cosmetic dental procedure that uses a laser to adjust the gum height and shape on the upper teeth. It’s typically done for three reasons: to even out uneven gums, to enhance the appearance of teeth that seem too small due to excessive gum coverage, or to reduce a gummy smile where too much gum is visible. This procedure can be performed alone or in conjunction with dental veneers.
Gum contouring is a cosmetic dental treatment to address cosmetic issues involving the gums of the top teeth. It involves using a laser to strategically remove a specific amount of gum from the top teeth to create the ideal gum shape and height. There are four main reasons for undergoing gum contouring treatment: to even out uneven gums; to make teeth look bigger if they’re hidden by too much gum; to reduce a gummy smile where too much gum shows when smiling; and to reshape the gums. Gum contouring can be performed as a stand-alone cosmetic dental treatment or done in combination with dental veneers.
A gum lift is a procedure that can be done as part of your Smile Transformation. The cosmetic dentist uses local anaesthesia and a hand-held laser that looks similar to a pen, to strategically and selectively reshape the gums of the front 4-6 top teeth. There is NO cutting with a sharp tool, NO stitches and NO recovery time.
If you have what’s commonly referred to as a ‘gummy’ smile, where a substantial amount of gum tissue is visible when you smile, or if your gum line is uneven, you might be a candidate for a gum lift. This procedure can significantly enhance your smile and boost your confidence.
Laser gum treatment is considered to be a permanent cosmetic dental procedure, so gums don’t really grow back after surgery. On rare occasions, the gum can grow back slightly (many years after the treatment is done). Should that occur, it’s a simple and straightforward procedure to get redone.
Laser gum surgery is covered by health insurance if you have ‘major dental cover’. Speak to your private health care insurance provider to see if your laser gum procedure is covered under your policy.
No, laser gum surgery doesn’t hurt. This is because the treatment doesn’t require local anaesthesia or a dental injection. All that’s required is numbing cream over the gum site that’s being treated. It feels similar to getting laser hair removal, like a light elastic band is flicking your tooth for a few seconds. It’s a simple and straight-forward procedure, and requires no downtime.
The time it takes for laser gum surgery to heal is immediate. This is because the pen laser that we use cauterises the gums at the same time that it’s removing gum tissue (we like to call that being efficient!) To put it into comparison, if a gum lift is not performed by a laser (such as a blade or scalpel), then the recovery period is approximately one week.
The signs you need a gum lift include that you show a lot of your gums when you fully smile or if your gums are uneven and not symmetrical on either side of the mouth. To determine if this is happening to you, examine each side of your upper lip for symmetry. If one side appears larger than the other, it’s possible that the overall appearance of the teeth are not symmetrical.
No, we don’t do gum grafts at Dental + Skin because it involves extensive downtime and recovery period. However, we do offer alternative cosmetic methods that we find are much more effective and pleasant for all our patients.
A gum lift at Dental + Skin costs $1000, no matter how many teeth need treatment. Unlike many other clinics that charge per tooth, our flat rate often saves our patients money, making our pricing not only more affordable but also more transparent.
At Dental + Skin, we’re proud of our transparency when it comes to gum contouring cost. Gum contouring with laser is a fixed fee of $1000, regardless of the number of teeth requiring a gum lift. Most places charge per tooth, which often exceeds our fixed price. It is for this reason we charge a flat fee, which means it ends up being more cost effective for our patients and it also means we’re able to be more transparent with our price.
The main difference between a gum lift and gum recession is that a gum lift is a cosmetic dental procedure while gum recession is considered a disease. A gum lift is performed under a controlled environment where the cosmetic dentist has full control over your gum height and shape, while there is no control over your gum height and shape with a gum recession.
The gum lift is typically done at the same time as the veneers, but right before the placement of the veneers. By sculpting your gum line first, it ensures that your veneers can be placed in a way that complements your new gum contour.
Yes, a gum lift can be done as a stand-alone cosmetic dental procedure, or it can be done in combination with dental veneers. We will assess your gum to see if this is a suitable option for you.
No, not all gum lifts are done with a laser – however at Dental + Skin, we only use a laser. We believe this is the best method because no numbing is required, and there’s no downtime. The alternative is using a scalpel, which would require local anaesthesia and a week’s recovery.
Typically, a gum lift procedure takes a few minutes to do, as there is no downtime or recovery period.
Laser gum surgery can only be performed by a specially trained dentist or gum specialist called a periodontist. At Dental and Skin Clinic, our cosmetic dentist is specially trained to perform a gum lift, and we have the latest technology to be able to perform laser gum treatment.
Have you heard about our Smile Transformation Packages?
A smile transformation is a combination of services that can help you achieve the smile you deserve. Whether you need teeth whitening or aligned teeth, a smile makeover can improve your overall future dental and oral health.
Every smile transformation is bespoke, designed just for you. Speak to us about our Smile Transformation options.
