Gummy Smile Fix: Gum Contouring and Crown Lengthening in Colombia

You know the feeling: you smile, and all you see is gums. Your teeth might be perfectly healthy, but excessive gum tissue makes them look short, uneven, or disproportionate. A "gummy smile" affects an estimated 10–15% of adults, and it's one of the most straightforward cosmetic issues to fix.

In Colombia, gum recontouring costs $300–$800 — a fraction of the $1,000–$3,000 charged in the US — and it's often combined with veneers for a complete smile makeover.

What Causes a Gummy Smile?

Several factors can cause excessive gum display:

• Excess gum tissue: The gums cover too much of the tooth crown, making teeth appear short. This is the most common cause and the most easily treated.
• Altered passive eruption: Teeth erupted normally, but the gums didn't recede to their expected adult position during development.
• Short upper lip or hypermobile lip: The lip rises too high when smiling, exposing more gum than usual. This is a skeletal/muscular issue, not a gum tissue issue.
• Vertical maxillary excess: The upper jaw is longer than average, positioning the gums lower in the smile. This is the most complex cause and may require orthognathic surgery.
• Tooth wear: Teeth worn down by grinding appear short, making gums proportionally prominent.

Treatment Options

Laser Gum Recontouring — $300–$800

The most common and least invasive treatment. A dental laser precisely removes excess gum tissue, revealing more of the tooth crown underneath. The laser simultaneously cauterizes the tissue, minimizing bleeding and accelerating healing.

Procedure time: 30–60 minutes.
Anesthesia: Local (you're awake and comfortable).
Recovery: Mild sensitivity for 2–3 days. Normal eating within 24 hours. Gums fully heal in 1–2 weeks.
Results: Immediate. Teeth appear longer, more proportional, and the gum line looks more even.

Crown Lengthening — $500–$1,200

When the issue isn't just excess gum tissue but also bone that sits too high on the tooth, crown lengthening removes both gum tissue and a small amount of underlying bone to expose more tooth structure.

Crown lengthening is also performed functionally — when a tooth is broken below the gum line and needs more exposed structure to support a crown.

Procedure time: 60–90 minutes.
Recovery: 7–10 days of swelling and tenderness. Full healing in 4–6 weeks. IVF can't be placed for 6–8 weeks to allow full tissue maturation.

Lip Repositioning — $800–$2,000

For patients whose gummy smile is caused by a hypermobile upper lip (the lip rises too high when smiling), lip repositioning surgery limits how far the lip can retract. This is a more specialized procedure, typically performed by a periodontist or oral surgeon.

Botox for Gummy Smiles — $200–$400

A non-surgical option: small Botox injections into the muscles that elevate the upper lip reduce the lip's upward movement when smiling. Results last 3–4 months and require maintenance injections. Good for patients who want to test the aesthetic change before committing to surgery.

Combining Gum Contouring with Veneers

This is the power combination for smile makeovers — and it's where Colombia's pricing creates extraordinary value.

Gum recontouring creates the ideal canvas: an even, proportional gum line that frames each tooth correctly. Veneers then transform the teeth themselves — correcting color, shape, and alignment. Together, they produce results that neither procedure achieves alone.

The same combination in the US: $1,000–$3,000 (gum) + $10,000–$25,000 (veneers) = $11,000–$28,000.

Am I a Candidate?

You're a good candidate for gum contouring if:

• Your teeth appear short but are actually normal length — just covered by excess gum tissue
• Your gum line is uneven (some teeth show more gum than others)
• You're in good general health with no uncontrolled periodontal disease
• Your concern is primarily cosmetic

You may need additional assessment if your gummy smile is caused by jaw position (vertical maxillary excess) or lip hypermobility — gum contouring alone won't fully address these causes.

Your Colombian dentist will evaluate the cause during your consultation (virtual or in-person) and recommend the appropriate treatment — or combination of treatments — for your specific anatomy.