Cosmetic Dentistry · Last reviewed May 2026
A Smile Without Too Much
Gum Showing.
Picasso Dental performs flapless gum contouring in Vietnam, and full gummy smile surgery (whole-arch lip-line correction) at. Both are done under local anaesthetic, with healing typically in 2-3 days. Gum contouring is often paired with porcelain veneers as the finishing step in a smile makeover, your gum line is reshaped first, then veneer impressions are taken on the new, stable margin.
What is Gum Contouring?
Gum contouring is precision reshaping of the gum margin around the teeth using a laser or fine surgical instrument, performed under local anaesthetic. It treats a gummy smile, an uneven gum line, asymmetric gingival display, or acts as a finishing step in a smile makeover, exposing more of each tooth so the proportions look right before veneers are placed.
Why Picasso for Gum Contouring
Digital Smile Design Includes Gum Line
The new gum margin is planned digitally as part of the smile design, not freehanded chairside. You see the planned gum line and tooth proportions before any tissue is touched.
Laser or Surgical Instrument
We use a soft-tissue laser for clean, low-bleed flapless cases, and conventional fine instruments where flap access to bone is needed. The right tool for the case, not the same tool for every case.
Often Combined With Veneers
For most smile makeovers, gum contouring is the first step. Reshape the gum line, let it stabilise for 2-4 weeks, then take veneer impressions on the new margin. One coordinated plan, not two unrelated procedures.
Healing in Days, Not Weeks
Initial comfort returns within 2-3 days for most patients. Full gum-margin stabilisation takes 2-4 weeks. No general anaesthetic, no hospital stay, you walk out and resume normal life the same day.
Honest Case Selection
Not every gummy smile is a gum-tissue problem. If your case is muscle-driven (hyperactive upper lip) or skeletal (vertical maxillary excess), we will tell you, and refer you to the right specialist rather than overtreat.
Performed at Six Branches
Available across all Picasso Dental locations in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Da Lat. Cosmetic-driven gum contouring is performed by our general and cosmetic dentists.
Procedure Types
Different cases call for different approaches. The right procedure depends on how much gum needs to be reshaped, whether the underlying bone is involved, and whether it is a single tooth, a section, or the whole upper arch.
Flapless Gum Contouring
. Minor reshaping of the gum margin without raising a flap. Fast healing, minimal bleeding, ideal for cosmetic gum-line corrections on healthy tissue.
Flap Surgery Contouring
. For more substantial reshaping requiring access to the underlying bone. A small flap is raised, bone level is adjusted if needed, then the tissue is closed and reshaped.
Gummy Smile Surgery
. Whole-arch lip-line correction across the upper front teeth. The single-fee option for patients whose primary concern is a gummy smile rather than a single asymmetric tooth.
Operculectomy
. Reshaping of the gum flap (operculum) over a partially erupted wisdom tooth, used when the flap traps food and causes recurring inflammation.
Gingival Flap Surgery
. Therapeutic flap procedure used to access and clean root surfaces in deeper periodontal pockets. A periodontal procedure rather than a cosmetic one.
Gingivitis Treatment
. Active gum disease must be resolved before any cosmetic gum contouring. Includes deep cleaning and follow-up review.
Gum Grafting (Autograft)
. For receding gums, a separate concern from contouring. Tissue is harvested from the patient's own palate and grafted to cover the recession.
Gum Grafting (Alloderm)
. Donor-tissue alternative using Alloderm acellular dermal membrane. Avoids a second surgical site and is preferred for multi-tooth recession cases.
What Causes a Gummy Smile?
Not every gummy smile has the same cause, and not every cause is fixed by cutting gum tissue. Here are the four main reasons, with an honest note on which ones contouring actually addresses.
Excessive Gingival Display
Gum tissue sits low on the teeth, covering more of the natural crown than it should. Treated by gum contouring. The most common cause we see at Picasso, and the case contouring is best at fixing.
Short Clinical Crowns
The visible part of the tooth is short relative to the gum. Treated by gum contouring, often combined with veneers afterwards to refine the new tooth proportions.
Hyperactive Upper Lip
The lip rises too high when smiling, exposing gum that is otherwise normal. Surgery is not always the answer here, sometimes Botox is the correct treatment. We will tell you honestly if this is your case.
Vertical Maxillary Excess
The upper jaw itself is too long. Orthognathic surgery may be needed instead, this is a skeletal issue, not a tissue issue. Picasso refers these cases out to maxillofacial surgical partners.
Smile Makeover Sequencing
When gum contouring is part of a smile makeover, it is almost always the first step, not the last. The reason is sequencing: veneer impressions need to be taken on the gum line where the veneer margin will actually sit, not on the old line. If you reshape the gums after veneers are bonded, you can expose unfinished tooth above the veneer edge.
The standard Picasso sequence for a gum contouring + veneer case:
- Photography, bite analysis, periodontal check, Digital Smile Design including the new gum line and the planned veneers.
- Gum contouring under local anaesthetic. You go home the same day.
- Healing window of 2-4 weeks, the gum margin matures and stabilises.
- Veneer preparation and iTero impressions taken on the new, stable gum line.
- Mock-up, then bonding visit. Final polish and occlusion check.
For international patients, this can fit into one extended trip of roughly 3 weeks, or a 2-trip schedule with contouring first and veneers on the return visit. We plan the timing with you before you book flights.
Gum Procedure Pricing
Per-procedure pricing. Most cosmetic gum contouring quotes use the flapless or whole-arch gummy smile fee. Gingivitis treatment, where needed, must come first.
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flapless gum contouring | Per tooth, cosmetic | |
| Flap surgery contouring | Per tooth, with bone access | |
| Gummy smile surgery | Whole-arch lip-line correction | |
| Operculectomy | Wisdom-tooth area | |
| Gingival flap surgery | Per tooth, periodontal | |
| Gingivitis treatment | Pre-requisite for contouring | |
| Gum grafting (autograft) | For receding gums | |
| Gum grafting (Alloderm membrane) | Donor-tissue alternative |
Pairing with veneers? See porcelain veneers.
Who Is, and Isn't, a Good Candidate?
Gum contouring suits some cases beautifully and is the wrong tool for others. The decision is made after photographs, a bite analysis and a periodontal check.
You're a Strong Candidate If
You have a gummy smile or uneven gum line caused by excessive gingival display or short clinical crowns.
Your gums are healthy, with no active periodontal disease.
You have adequate biological width (the buffer of tissue between gum margin and bone) so the new margin will be stable.
You want a single-procedure cosmetic finish, with or without veneers.
You are willing to wait 2-4 weeks before veneer impressions, if you are combining the two.
It May Not Be Right If
You have active periodontal disease, this must be treated first.
Bone-level adjustment is needed beyond what flapless contouring can address, flap surgery is the correct choice instead.
The issue is actually a hyperactive upper lip, in which case Botox or a lip-repositioning procedure is more appropriate, and we will refer you.
The issue is skeletal (vertical maxillary excess), orthognathic surgery is the right tool, and we refer these cases out.
You have inadequate biological width, the gum will likely rebound or inflame.
How Gum Contouring Works
Five steps from first photograph to follow-up. Standalone contouring fits in one visit; the full sequence with veneers takes 2-4 weeks.
1. Photography + Bite Analysis
Clinical photographs of your smile at rest and at full smile, plus a periodontal check to confirm gums are healthy. We measure biological width and rule out active disease.
2. Digital Smile Design with New Gum Line
The planned gum margin is modelled digitally as part of your smile design. You see the new tooth proportions and gum line before any tissue is touched.
3. Local Anaesthetic + Precision Reshape
The area is numbed. Tissue is reshaped using a soft-tissue laser or fine surgical instrument. Flapless for minor cases; with a small flap when bone-level adjustment is required.
4. Healing 2-3 Days
Initial comfort returns within 2-3 days. The gum margin continues to mature for 2-4 weeks. You can resume normal eating, talking and work the same day.
5. Optional Veneer Prep on New Gum Line
If contouring is the first step of a smile makeover, veneer impressions are taken on the new, stable gum line 2-4 weeks later. The veneer margin will sit exactly where it was designed to sit.
Aftercare
Salt-water rinses 2-3 times daily for the first week. Soft food for 24-48 hours. No smoking. Avoid the area when brushing for 3 days. Follow-up review at 1 week.
Risks & Honest Tradeoffs
Gum contouring is a low-complexity surgical procedure, but no procedure is risk-free. Here is what can happen, and how we minimise it.
Minor Bleeding
Some oozing for 24-48 hours is normal, particularly with non-laser cases. Apply gentle pressure with gauze if needed. Persistent bleeding past 48 hours is uncommon and warrants a check-in.
Mild Discomfort
Most patients describe 2-3 days of mild tenderness, similar to a soft tissue scrape. Paracetamol or ibuprofen is usually enough. Anything sharper than that is worth a phone call to us.
Stabilisation Window Before Veneers
Gum height needs 2-4 weeks to stabilise before final veneer impressions. Skipping this window risks the veneer margin sitting on tissue that is still maturing, which causes long-term marginal issues.
Asymmetric Healing
Small risk of one side healing slightly differently from the other. Rare with digital planning and laser cases. Where it occurs, a minor refinement at the 2-4 week review usually resolves it.
Gum Rebound
A small amount of rebound (typically under 0.5mm) can occur in some patients. Cases planned with adequate biological width do not regrow back to the original position; cases done without that assessment can.
What We Will Tell You No To
If your gummy smile is muscle-driven or skeletal, we will say so and refer you, even if it loses us the work. Cutting gum tissue on the wrong patient looks fine for a few months and disappoints reliably after that.
Performed By
Cosmetic-driven gum contouring at Picasso is performed by our general and cosmetic dentists, with smile-design oversight from Dr. Rosie. Picasso does not have a registered periodontist on staff. Complex periodontal grafting cases, particularly multi-tooth recession or compromised biological width, may be referred to a specialist partner.
Dr. Huong Nguyen (Dr. Rosie)
Cosmetic Dentist. Leads smile-design cases at Picasso, including gum-line planning as part of Digital Smile Design. Cases combining gum contouring with veneers are coordinated under her smile-makeover plan.
Dr. Emily Nguyen
Founding Clinical Director. Sets clinical standards for case selection group-wide, including which gummy smile cases are appropriate for in-clinic contouring versus referral for orthognathic or muscle-driven treatment.
Common Questions
Does gum contouring hurt?
The procedure itself is done under local anaesthetic, so it is not painful. After the anaesthetic wears off, most patients describe mild tenderness for 2-3 days, similar to a soft tissue scrape. Paracetamol or ibuprofen is usually enough.
How long does healing take?
Comfort returns within 2-3 days. The gum margin itself continues to mature for 2-4 weeks. If you are pairing gum contouring with veneers, we wait until the gum line is stable before taking veneer impressions.
Will my gums grow back?
For flapless contouring on healthy gums with adequate biological width, the new margin is generally stable. A small amount of rebound (under 0.5mm) can occur in some patients. Cases done with proper biological-width assessment do not regrow back to the original position.
Can I get this without veneers?
Yes. Many patients have gum contouring as a standalone procedure to correct a gummy smile or asymmetric gum line, with no veneers planned. The result is the existing teeth made more proportional by exposing more of the natural crown.
Do you use a laser?
We use either a soft-tissue laser or a fine surgical instrument depending on the case. Lasers tend to be cleaner with less bleeding for minor reshaping. For cases that require flap access to bone, conventional instruments are still the right tool.
Will it look natural?
Yes, when planned with Digital Smile Design. The aim is a gum line that follows the natural curve from canine to canine, with the gum height of the lateral incisors slightly lower than the centrals and canines. We plan this digitally before cutting anything.
Can you fix a gummy smile permanently?
It depends on the cause. If the gummy smile is from excessive gingival display or short clinical crowns, contouring is a stable, lasting fix. If it is from a hyperactive upper lip, surgery is not always the answer, Botox can help. If it is skeletal (vertical maxillary excess), orthognathic surgery is needed and we refer those cases out.
Can I get this in one trip?
Yes. Contouring itself is one visit. If it is a standalone procedure, you only need that single visit plus an optional 1-week follow-up. If you are combining with veneers, plan a 2-trip schedule, contouring first, then return 2-4 weeks later for veneer prep, or extend a single trip to roughly 3 weeks.
What about Botox for a gummy smile?
Botox can soften a hyperactive upper lip and is appropriate when the gummy smile is muscle-driven rather than tissue-driven. Picasso does not provide Botox in clinic, but we will tell you honestly if your case is a lip-position issue rather than a gum-tissue issue, and refer you appropriately.
Do you do gum grafting for receding gums?
Gum grafting is a separate concern from contouring, it adds tissue to a recession, rather than removing tissue from a low gum line. We offer autograft and Alloderm membrane options. Picasso does not have a registered periodontist on staff, so complex periodontal grafting cases may be referred to a specialist partner.
Start Here
Plan Your New Gum Line
Before Any Tissue is Touched.
Book a free cosmetic consultation. We'll photograph your smile, check biological width, build a Digital Smile Design preview with the planned gum line, recommend the right procedure (flapless, flap, or whole-arch gummy smile surgery), and quote you in writing before any clinical work begins.