Gum Contouring
Gum Contouring in Basel
In brief: Gum Contouring
A gummy smile or irregular gingival margins can affect the balance of a smile. Gingivoplasty reshapes the gum contour, while gingivectomy removes selected excess soft tissue. In appropriately selected cases, these procedures can improve tooth–gingiva proportions and symmetry while preserving healthy tissues.
At our practice in Basel, planning is based on clinical analysis, photographs and, where useful, a digital or physical mock-up. The required procedure depends on tooth position, gingival architecture and the underlying bone level.
Potential Benefits and Treatment Goals
Harmonious aesthetics: more symmetrical gingival margins and improved visible tooth proportions.
Minimally invasive where appropriate: precise soft-tissue surgery, usually under local anaesthesia.
Digital smile analysis or a mock-up can help visualise the intended result before treatment.
Relatively quick soft-tissue recovery: swelling is often limited, although healing time varies with the extent of treatment.
With veneers, crowns, clear aligners or teeth whitening as part of a coordinated treatment plan when indicated.
When can gum contouring be considered?
with increased gingival display
Asymmetrical gingival margins or uneven visible crown lengths
Short clinical crowns despite otherwise healthy teeth
Excess gingival tissue after orthodontic treatment
Gingival-tooth proportion imbalance before aesthetic restorations such as veneers or crowns
Assessment of the cause includes lip movement, tooth and root position, bone level, supracrestal tissue attachment and gingival architecture. More complex cases may require surgical crown lengthening with osseous recontouring; other treatment such as orthodontics or, in selected cases, management of excessive lip elevation may be considered.
Treatment options at a glance
1) Gingivectomy / gingivoplasty (soft tissue only)
What happens? Excess soft tissue is reshaped or reduced without bone removal when the bone level and supracrestal tissue attachment allow this approach.
Mild excess gingival tissue where the periodontal anatomy allows stable soft-tissue recontouring.
Limited surgical extent and generally shorter soft-tissue recovery.
2) Crown lengthening with ostectomy/osteoplasty (soft tissue and bone)
What happens? When necessary, bone is recontoured by osteoplasty and/or ostectomy to establish an appropriate relationship between the restorative margin, bone crest and supracrestal tissue attachment.
For whom? More pronounced gingival excess, altered passive eruption or planned restorations that require a stable and biologically compatible gingival margin.
Advantage: when the underlying anatomy is addressed appropriately, the new gingival level can be more stable over time.
3) Adjunctive options: botulinum toxin in selected cases of excessive upper-lip elevation, orthodontics for tooth-position issues, and veneers or other restorations where final tooth shape or length also needs correction.
Important:If the underlying bone level or altered passive eruption is not addressed when required, some gingival rebound can occur. Osseous recontouring can improve stability when it is clinically indicated.
Treatment Process
– assessment of the smile line, lip dynamics, periodontal tissues and tooth proportions.
Mock-up / Smile Design – preview of the intended gingival and tooth proportions before treatment where useful.
Local anaesthesia & microsurgical technique – tissue-preserving and precise.
– symmetry check and, in crown-lengthening procedures, suturing as required.
– gentle oral care, prescribed rinses if appropriate and follow-up, commonly after 7–14 days.
Healing: soft tissues often settle substantially within 1–2 weeks, while maturation continues for several weeks; healing takes longer after osseous recontouring. Definitive aesthetic restorations are planned after the gingival level has stabilised.
Limitations and Possible Risks
Temporary sensitivity or mild swelling
or altered tooth proportions can occur, particularly when anatomy or indication is unfavourable; careful periodontal planning is important.
With marked upper-lip elevation or a high bone crest, soft-tissue contouring alone may be insufficient; a combined approach such as crown lengthening, orthodontics or other selected measures may be appropriate.
Costs and Individual Treatment Planning
Costs depend on the number of teeth or segments treated, whether only soft tissue or also bone requires surgery, and the complexity and material requirements. You receive an individual cost estimate in advance.
Treatment | Indicative Range |
Gingivoplasty (1–3 teeth / one region) | 350–650 |
Gingivoplasty (4–8 teeth / anterior segment) | 700–1,400 |
Gingivectomy (per region) | 500–900 |
Surgical crown lengthening including bone recontouring (per tooth / region) | 900–1,600 |
Digital smile design / mock-up (optional) | 300–600 |
Combined aesthetic concepts, for example gum contouring with veneers, aligners or whitening, are calculated transparently as an
Frequently asked questions
Does it hurt?
Treatment is performed under local anaesthesia, so pain is usually well controlled during the procedure. A feeling of pressure or tension and mild postoperative discomfort can occur for a few days.
How long does healing take?
Soft tissues often look settled after 1–2 weeks, but final contour maturation commonly takes 6–12 weeks and may take longer when bone has been recontoured.
What are the risks?
Temporary sensitivity can occur. Gingival recession or small open gingival embrasures may develop in selected anatomical situations; careful planning helps reduce, but cannot eliminate, these risks.
Will the result remain stable?
Long-term stability depends on the diagnosis, surgical technique, anatomy and oral hygiene. If osseous recontouring is required but not performed, partial gingival rebound may occur.
Will I need veneers or crowns afterwards?
Not necessarily. If tooth shape, colour or structural defects also require correction, a minimally invasive restorative treatment may be considered and planned in advance.
Summary
We assess the cause of the gingival display in Basel, simulate the intended result where useful and discuss the least invasive approach that can provide a biologically stable outcome, including expected complexity and costs.
Diagnostics and Planning
Planning is based on a structured periodontal assessment. Relevant factors include signs of inflammation, probing depths, bleeding, recession, bone support, oral hygiene and individual risk factors. Treatment and maintenance are tailored accordingly.
Gum Contouring in Basel: experience and clinical perspective
In our Basel practice, systematic diagnostics are combined with a clear tooth-preservation strategy. Periodontal and reconstructive aspects are considered together; complex periodontal-surgical questions are managed, where appropriate, in collaboration with suitably specialised colleagues.More about Dr Thomas Gasser’s training and qualifications.
Related Topics on Our Website
Depending on the individual situation, Bad breath (halitosis),root coverage surgery or Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment may also be relevant.You can find further dental services in Basel in our treatment overview.
Literature and Scientific Context
PubMed PMID 41281135 – Open-Flap Versus Minimally Invasive Flapless Techniques in Esthetic Crown Lengthening: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
PubMed PMID 35347420 – Clinical efficacy of lip repositioning technique and its modifications for the treatment of gummy smile: systematic review and meta-analysis
The selected literature provides scientific context. Which findings are relevant to a specific treatment depends on the diagnosis, the starting situation, individual risks and the treatment goals agreed together.
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