A smile that shows more gum than tooth, or a gum line that dips unevenly across your front teeth, isn't always a tooth problem — it's often the gum tissue itself, and it can usually be reshaped in a single visit.
At PlanDental in Mahim West, gum contouring is carried out by Dr. Hrishikesh Naik and Dr. Nisha Naik, both MDS in Prosthodontics and Implantology. Because gum position directly affects how veneers or crowns are sized, it's assessed as part of any cosmetic treatment plan, not treated as an afterthought. Read more about the clinic before you book.
Patients usually book this for: a "gummy" smile showing more gum than tooth an uneven or asymmetric gum line gum overgrowth from old orthodontic treatment preparing for veneers or a smile makeover gum recontouring around an old crown
Gum contouring at PlanDental in Mahim, Mumbai reshapes excess or uneven gum tissue to correct a gummy smile or an asymmetric gum line, usually in a single visit under local anaesthesia. It only works when the cause is soft-tissue overgrowth or unevenness — if the appearance is caused by how the jaw or lip sits, contouring alone won't fully correct it, and this is assessed before any tissue is reshaped.
Gum contouring (gingivectomy or gingival recontouring) removes or reshapes excess gum tissue to expose more of the tooth's natural crown, evening out an uneven gum line or reducing how much gum shows when you smile. It's a soft-tissue procedure — it changes the gum, not the tooth or the bone underneath.
A "gummy smile" itself can come from several different causes: excess gum tissue covering more of the tooth than usual, a tooth that erupted only partially, an overactive upper lip that lifts higher than average, or the position of the upper jaw itself. Gum contouring addresses the first two; the others need a different specialist or approach, which is why an accurate diagnosis matters before treatment starts.
A clinical exam determines which column below applies to you.
Veneers and crowns are sized to the visible portion of a tooth. If the gum line is uneven or sits lower than it should, restorations placed without correcting it first will look uneven too — no amount of shape or shade matching on the tooth fixes a gum-line problem underneath it. This is why gum contouring, where needed, is sequenced before veneers in a smile makeover, not after.
The reverse is also true: contouring a gum line without a plan for the teeth above it risks a mismatch the other way. Assessing both together is standard practice at a design consultation.
A few approaches exist depending on the cause. Here's how they compare.
Reshapes excess gum tissue directly, under local anaesthesia.
Reduces lip movement rather than reshaping tissue.
Repositions the jaw itself for skeletal-level causes.
The dentist confirms whether the gummy or uneven appearance comes from tissue, tooth eruption, lip position, or jaw position, since only some of these respond to contouring.
The gum tissue is numbed before any reshaping begins.
The target gum line is marked out to keep both sides symmetrical before any tissue is removed.
Excess gum tissue is removed and the margin is refined to the planned shape.
You're given instructions on eating, brushing gently around the area, and what healing looks like over the following days.
Gum contouring cost in Mumbai depends on how many teeth are involved and how much tissue needs reshaping. PlanDental doesn't publish a fixed figure here, since it varies by case — WhatsApp a photo of your smile and the clinic will talk you through what affects the estimate.
This section describes what affects cost, not a quotation. Actual cost is confirmed only after an in-person or photo-based assessment.
Sometimes a gummy smile is a tissue issue that gum contouring alone can fix, and sometimes it genuinely needs a different specialist. Send a photo on WhatsApp for a straight opinion on which applies to you.
Mild swelling, tenderness, or oozing is normal; a soft diet and avoiding the treated area when brushing helps.
Initial healing settles; gentle brushing resumes fully as tenderness fades.
The gum tissue continues to mature and settle into its final shape over several weeks.
The final cosmetic result — and readiness for any planned veneers — is assessed once healing is complete.
Active gum disease or inflammation — this is treated first, always, before any cosmetic reshaping.
A gummy smile caused mainly by lip or jaw position — contouring alone won't fully correct this, and it's said upfront rather than promising a result it can't deliver.
Insufficient attached gum tissue to safely recontour without exposing tooth roots.
Uncontrolled bleeding disorders or anticoagulant medication that hasn't been medically cleared for minor gum surgery.
After the gum is numbed with local anaesthesia, you'll feel pressure and vibration but not pain during the reshaping itself. The visit is done in a standard operatory and usually takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on how many teeth are involved. Mild bleeding or oozing immediately afterward is normal and expected, and you'll be given clear instructions before you leave about eating and brushing around the area for the first few days.
Contouring is only recommended once the actual cause is confirmed.
Both dentists plan gum position alongside any veneer or crown work.
Step-free walk-in access, Guru Nanak Road, Mahim West — no stairs.
Same Guru Nanak Road address, next to Citylight Cinema, for over a decade.
The area is numbed with local anaesthesia beforehand, so the procedure itself is not painful. Mild tenderness during healing over the following days is normal.
Initial healing takes about a week, but the gum tissue continues to settle into its final shape over several weeks before the full cosmetic result is clear.
Some minor regrowth can occur over the years, particularly if the original cause (like gum disease or certain medications) isn't managed, but a well-planned result is generally stable long-term.
Yes, and it's usually sequenced before veneers so they can be sized to the corrected gum line rather than the original one.
No. A deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) treats gum disease by removing plaque and tartar below the gum line. Gum contouring reshapes healthy tissue for cosmetic reasons.
Only if the cause is the gum tissue itself. If lip or jaw position is the main cause, contouring alone gives a partial result at best — this is assessed and discussed honestly before treatment.
Most cases affecting the visible front teeth are completed in a single visit, though the exact number depends on how much tissue needs reshaping.
It's a well-established, minor soft-tissue procedure, but it isn't right for everyone — active gum disease, certain bleeding conditions, and some medications need to be addressed or cleared first.
Call or WhatsApp PlanDental to check today's availability, ask a question, or send a photo for a personalised estimate — no forms to fill.
Dr. Hrishikesh Naik · Dr. Nisha Naik · About the clinic · Cosmetic Dentist in Mahim
General background reading on the clinical claims made on this page (not clinic-specific research):
Disclaimer: Information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. Individual treatment plans and outcomes vary based on clinical evaluation by a qualified dentist.