Gum Contouring in Milwaukee, WI: Even Out the Gum Line
For people whose teeth are fine and whose gums are the problem. Laser reshaping means less bleeding and a shorter recovery than a scalpel.
Laser dentistry for less bleeding and faster healing
15 years serving Milwaukee
Digital design before treatment
Most people back to normal within days
Sometimes the teeth are fine and the gums are the problem. Too much gum shows when you smile, or the line across the front teeth runs high on one and low on the next, and the whole smile reads uneven even though every tooth is healthy. Gum contouring reshapes that line with a dental laser, which seals as it works and cuts healing time compared to a scalpel. At Lake Park Dental in Milwaukee, we map the new line against your lip and tooth proportions before we touch anything. Here's what usually brings people in.
WHEN YOU NEED GUM CONTOURING
Two patterns show up most. The first is a gummy smile, where several millimeters of gum show above the teeth when you smile fully, which often means the teeth are the right size but partly covered. The second is an uneven line, where one front tooth looks shorter than its twin because the gum sits lower on it. Recession creates a third pattern, where the gum has pulled back and the tooth looks long instead. You may notice it more than other people do, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it.
There's no medical clock on a cosmetic gum line. Nothing gets worse because you waited. Timing does matter in one situation, which is when gum contouring is part of a larger plan. If veneers or crowns are going on the front teeth, the gum work comes first, because the restorations have to be designed to meet the new line rather than the old one. Doing it in the wrong order means redoing the porcelain. If contouring is the only thing you want, the schedule is entirely yours.
OUR GUM CONTOURING PROCESS
We start by looking at where the gum should sit, not just where it sits now. That means measuring how much tooth shows when you talk and smile, checking the bone level under the gum, and designing the new line against your lip. The bone matters because in some cases the gum is high due to bone position, and reshaping tissue alone won't hold. The procedure itself is done under local anesthetic with a dental laser, which seals small vessels as it goes. Most cases take under an hour.
You go home the same day. Expect some tenderness for two or three days, and stick to softer foods while the tissue settles. The gum takes a few weeks to fully mature into its final shape, so if veneers or bonding are part of the plan, we wait for that before designing the restorations. We check the healing at a follow-up visit.
UNDERSTANDING THE COST OF GUM CONTOURING
Gum contouring is priced by how many teeth are involved and whether the case needs tissue reshaping alone or bone recontouring as well. Two teeth is a different job than ten. We evaluate first, then put the number in writing before treatment begins, and that number is what you pay. Lake Park Dental is a fee-for-service practice in Milwaukee, and we provide detailed receipts you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement when the work qualifies as periodontal rather than cosmetic. Cherry and CareCredit are available if you'd rather spread payments out.
Why Choose Us
Gum contouring is a procedure that only meticulous dentist can do well. We plan the new line digitally against your lip line and tooth proportions first, and we check the bone level before starting, since tissue trimmed without addressing the bone underneath tends to creep back over the following months. The laser means less bleeding and a shorter recovery than a blade. We've been doing this work in Milwaukee for 15 years and our patients leave happy with the results.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gum Contouring FAQs
Will the gum grow back after contouring?
1
Properly done, the new line is permanent. Tissue can rebound in cases where the underlying bone sat too high and wasn't adjusted, which is why we check bone level during planning rather than only reshaping tissue.
Does gum contouring hurt?
2
The area is numbed, so you shouldn't feel the procedure. Afterward expect soreness for two or three days, similar to a burn on the roof of your mouth from hot food. Most people manage it with over-the-counter pain relief and softer meals.
How long does healing take?
3
The surface feels normal within a few days to a week. The gum takes several weeks to settle into its final shape and color. If veneers or bonding are planned, we wait for that full healing before designing the restorations so they meet the finished gum line.
Does insurance cover gum contouring?
4
It depends on why it's being done. Reshaping for periodontal health or crown lengthening before a restoration is often partly covered. Purely cosmetic contouring generally isn't. We give you a written estimate up front and detailed receipts you can submit yourself.
Schedule Your Gum Contouring Consultation in Milwaukee
Come in and we'll show you where the gum line sits now, where it could sit, and whether the change is tissue alone or involves the bone underneath. You'll get the plan and the cost in writing. Call 414-963-9440 to schedule.
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