Gum Contouring

Gum contouring reshapes the gum line, usually to address a "gummy smile" — where more gum tissue than usual shows when you smile — or an uneven gum line where some teeth look shorter than others. It's often carried out alongside other cosmetic treatment, such as veneers or crowns, as part of a broader smile makeover.

Alp Medical Travel is a medical tourism facilitator, not a dental clinic. Examinations, diagnoses, treatment recommendations and procedures are carried out by our partner dental clinics and dentists in Türkiye. Our role is to coordinate your treatment journey and communication with the treating clinic.

What Types of Gum Contouring Are Available?

Depending on your case, the dentist or periodontist may use one of a few techniques:

• Laser contouring – using a soft tissue laser to reshape the gum, often with less bleeding than traditional methods.
• Traditional (scalpel) contouring – reshaping the gum tissue using conventional surgical instruments.
• Crown lengthening – a more involved procedure that may also involve adjusting the bone beneath the gum, used when more of the tooth needs to be exposed, for example before fitting a crown or filling on a tooth covered by excess gum tissue.

Which approach applies to you depends on how much tissue needs reshaping and whether any underlying bone is involved. The treating dentist or periodontist will recommend a technique after an examination.

What Can Gum Contouring Address?

Gum contouring can improve the appearance of a gummy smile or an uneven gum line by removing or reshaping excess gum tissue, so more of the natural tooth is visible.

It's worth knowing that a gummy smile doesn't always come from excess gum tissue alone — it can also be related to how the upper lip moves, the position or eruption of the teeth, or the underlying jaw structure, and in some of these cases gum contouring on its own won't fully address it. The dentist or periodontist will assess the actual cause of your smile's appearance before recommending gum contouring, rather than assuming it's the right fix for every case.

Is Gum Contouring Right for Everyone?

Not automatically. Active gum disease is usually treated first, since reshaping unhealthy gum tissue isn't advisable until it's stable. Enough healthy gum and, where relevant, bone needs to remain to support the teeth properly after the procedure.

Gum contouring isn't the right approach for the opposite problem — gums that have receded, exposing too much of the tooth root — which is generally treated differently, for example with a gum graft. The dentist or periodontist will assess your specific situation and explain what applies to you.

How Is Gum Contouring Done?

The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, and the dentist or periodontist marks out the planned new gum line before reshaping the tissue, either with a laser or traditional surgical instruments. If bone needs adjusting as part of a crown-lengthening procedure, this is done at the same time. Stitches may or may not be needed, depending on the technique and how much tissue is involved.

Some swelling, tenderness, or minor bleeding in the days afterwards is common. Increasing pain, heavy bleeding, or signs of infection are not, and should be reported to the treating clinic.

What Is the Recovery Time?

Most people find the initial discomfort settles within a few days to a week. How long the gum takes to fully settle into its final shape varies with the technique used — simple reshaping of the gum tissue alone tends to settle sooner than crown lengthening, which involves the bone and can take longer to stabilise. This matters if a crown or veneer is planned afterwards, since it's usually best to wait until the gum has fully settled before that final restoration is made. Your dentist or periodontist can give you a realistic idea of when to expect the final result for your case.

Aftercare

General aftercare includes:

• Following any specific rinsing or cleaning instructions given by the dentist
• Being gentle around the treated area when brushing, particularly in the first week or two
• Avoiding very hot, spicy, or hard foods while the area heals
• Attending any follow-up appointment recommended to check healing

Once you're home, your Alp Medical Travel coordinator remains your point of contact for any questions.

How Alp Medical Travel Supports Your Dental Journey

You will have one named coordinator from your first enquiry through your return home. With your consent, we arrange the preliminary review of your case by a partner dental clinic and coordinate:

• Your written treatment proposal and itemised quotation
• Clinic appointments and treatment schedule
• Accommodation and transfers, where requested
• Language and communication support during your stay
• Communication with the treating clinic after you return home

This means you know who to contact at each stage without having to explain your case again to a new person.

How Much Does Gum Contouring Cost in Turkey?

Cost depends on how much gum tissue needs reshaping, the technique used, and whether it's being combined with other cosmetic treatment such as veneers or crowns. Following a preliminary review, the partner dental clinic will prepare the proposed treatment and costs, and Alp Medical Travel will coordinate an itemised quotation showing what's included, along with any travel-support services. The final treatment plan and price are confirmed after your clinical examination in Türkiye.

This page provides general information and does not replace an examination, diagnosis, or individual advice from a qualified dentist or periodontist.