What is a gummy smile?
There is no single correct amount of gum to show, but when more than a few millimetres of gum is visible above the upper front teeth, people often describe it as a gummy smile. The teeth can look short, and the smile can feel out of balance even when the teeth themselves are healthy and well shaped.
The cause matters, because it decides the treatment. Sometimes the gum has simply not moved back from the teeth as it usually does in the teenage years. Sometimes the upper lip lifts higher than average, or the upper jaw is longer. Gummy smile correction in Kerala is often discussed as one procedure, but in practice we look at the gum, bone, lip and tooth length together before recommending anything.
How gum contouring works
Gum contouring, also called gum reshaping or crown lengthening when bone is involved, removes a small band of gum to show more of each tooth. Most of our patients have it done with laser dentistry, which shapes the gum precisely and seals the edges as it works, so there is usually little bleeding and no stitches.
If the bone sits too close to the gum edge, a small amount may also need reshaping so the new gum line stays where it is placed. We tell you before treatment if this applies.
Planning a balanced gum line
A good gum line follows a gentle curve, roughly mirrors from side to side and frames the teeth in proportion to your lips. We plan it around your face rather than a template, using photographs and a 3D digital scan. When gum contouring is part of a wider smile design, we often reshape the gums first so that veneers or crowns can be made to the new, even line.
Gum reshaping in Calicut: what to expect on the day
Most people asking about gum reshaping in Calicut are surprised by how short the appointment is. Contouring the upper front teeth usually takes under an hour. You will be numb for a few hours afterwards, and we give you written aftercare advice. We see you again after one to two weeks to check healing and the final shape, and we are a message away if you have questions in between.
