Procedure

Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery

A beautiful smile starts with the gum line.

Crown lengthening to correct a gummy smile
Soft tissue grafting to cover exposed roots
Ridge preservation after tooth loss
Evening and reshaping the gum line
Coordinated with restorative dentistry

The gum line is the frame around your smile. When that frame is uneven, excessive, receded, or collapsed, even beautiful teeth can look less than their best. Cosmetic periodontal procedures address the soft and hard tissue architecture around the teeth — creating the proportions and contours that allow your smile to shine.

Crown Lengthening

If your teeth appear short or your smile looks "gummy," the issue may not be your teeth at all — they may simply be covered by excess gum and bone tissue. Crown lengthening is a periodontal procedure that removes this excess tissue to expose more of the natural tooth surface.

Crown lengthening can be performed on a single tooth, multiple teeth, or across the entire smile line. It is frequently performed in coordination with cosmetic dentistry by your general dentist, who can then deliver veneers, crowns, or bonding on teeth that are properly framed by a balanced gum line.

Soft Tissue Grafting

A soft tissue graft covers unattractive, sensitive, or vulnerable root surfaces caused by gum recession. It also reduces the risk of further recession and protects the root from decay and physical damage. When recession has created a visually uneven gum line, grafting restores symmetry and improves the overall appearance of the smile.

Ridge Preservation and Augmentation

Tooth loss causes the jawbone to resorb, leading to a visible indentation or collapse in the gum and jaw. This can make replacement teeth — whether implant crowns or a fixed bridge — appear too long or unnaturally positioned compared to adjacent teeth.

Bone grafting following extraction preserves the ridge, minimizes bone and gum collapse, and creates the natural-looking contour that supports a beautiful tooth replacement. There is less shrinkage, better soft tissue volume, and a more esthetic result for whatever restoration follows.

Coordinating with Your Dentist

Many cosmetic periodontal procedures are most effective when planned in coordination with your restorative dentist. Our dentists work closely with referring practices to sequence treatment appropriately — ensuring that the foundational periodontal work is completed before or alongside cosmetic restorations, for results that are both beautiful and durable.

Reviewed by Dr. Stephen B. Hutton, DMD — Board-Certified Periodontist, Oral Plastic Surgery

Frequently Asked Questions

What does cosmetic periodontal surgery include?

It includes crown lengthening (exposing more tooth structure), gum line reshaping (correcting uneven or overly high gum lines), papilla reconstruction (restoring the triangular gum tissue between teeth), and ridge preservation and augmentation for restorative or implant purposes. Each procedure is matched to the specific esthetic concern and anatomy.

Am I a candidate for a "gummy smile" correction?

Most patients with a gummy smile caused by excess gum tissue, altered tooth eruption, or asymmetric gum contours are candidates for correction. We evaluate the cause — which can be dental, gingival, or skeletal — and recommend the appropriate approach at consultation.

How long is recovery after cosmetic gum surgery?

Most patients return to normal activities within 1–2 days. Gum tissue takes 4–6 weeks to fully heal and settle into its final contour. For procedures done in preparation for crowns or veneers, we wait for full tissue maturation before the restorative dentist proceeds.

Will the results look natural?

That's the entire goal. Microsurgical techniques, careful planning, and attention to the relationship between gum tissue and tooth proportion produce results that look like what your smile should have been. Patients frequently tell us no one can tell they had anything done — only that their smile looks "right."

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