Laser Gum Contouring for Gummy Smiles and Uneven Gumlines
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More tooth, less gum
An even gumline
Easier to keep clean
Braces and aligners move your teeth — but your gumline frames the result. Sometimes gum tissue becomes puffy or overgrown during treatment, or the gumline sits unevenly from tooth to tooth, so the finished smile shows less of each tooth than it should. Laser Gum Contouring (also called a gum lift or laser gingivectomy) is a procedure your Imagine orthodontist performs right in the studio: a soft-tissue laser gently reshapes the excess tissue so the smile you worked for is the smile you see.
Who is Laser Gum Contouring for?
- Overgrown or puffy gum tissue that developed during braces and hasn’t fully settled
- An uneven gumline that makes some teeth look shorter than their neighbors
- A “gummy” smile, where more gum than tooth shows when you smile
Your Imagine doctor evaluates your gum health and tooth structure first. This is a personalized decision — it isn’t right for every smile, and your doctor will tell you honestly if it isn’t right for yours. Laser Gum Contouring is available to Imagine patients — current, past, or starting treatment — as part of your orthodontic care; it is not offered as a standalone service at this time.
What laser gum contouring does for your smile
- Shows more of each tooth. Reshaping excess tissue reveals the natural length of your teeth, so the smile you see matches the smile you worked for.
- Evens the gumline. Teeth look balanced and proportional when the gum frames each one at the same height.
- Easier to keep clean. Puffy, overgrown tissue traps plaque around brackets; contouring it away makes brushing and flossing simpler and supports healthier gums.
- Your own orthodontist, your own studio. No referral to a separate office and no starting over with new records — your doctor plans it as part of your treatment.
- Typically one visit. A topical numbing gel first; stitches are typically not needed.
- Planned tooth by tooth. Your doctor decides exactly how much tissue to reshape for your smile — it is a design decision, not a one-size procedure.
- Long-lasting with good home care.
What causes a gummy smile — and when laser contouring helps
A gummy smile (your dentist may call it excessive gingival display) can come from extra gum tissue covering the teeth, from the way the upper lip moves, from the position of the teeth, or from the shape of the upper jaw. Laser gum contouring helps when the cause is excess gum tissue. When the cause is tooth position, braces or aligners may be the answer; when it is lip movement or jaw shape, your Imagine doctor will explain the options and refer you to the right specialist if needed. That is why every case starts with an evaluation, not a promise.
What to expect
- Consultation and planning — your doctor maps where the gumline should sit, tooth by tooth, and reviews the benefits, risks and alternatives with you.
- Numbing — a topical numbing gel is applied to the area before treatment.
- Laser contouring — a soft-tissue laser gently reshapes the tissue with precision. Most cases are completed in a single visit, and stitches are typically not needed.
- Healing — some tenderness for a few days is common. You’ll leave with simple written after-care instructions, and your gumline continues to settle over the following weeks.
Your laser contouring doctors
Laser Gum Contouring at Imagine is performed by Dr. Alison Starkenburg and Dr. Alissa Morris, board-certified orthodontists who completed specialized training in laser soft-tissue contouring. Both practice at our St. Petersburg and Largo studios.
How laser gum contouring changes a smile
These illustrations show the three situations we treat most often. Individual results vary.
Cost and insurance
Laser Gum Contouring is an add-on to your orthodontic treatment at Imagine, and it can usually be added to your existing monthly payment plan. It is not always covered under orthodontic benefits, and it is not typically a covered benefit under Florida Medicaid dental plans. Your Treatment Coordinator will confirm the fee, and any insurance credit, with you before anything is scheduled — no surprises.
Where to find it
Laser gum contouring is performed by Dr. Starkenburg and Dr. Morris at our St. Petersburg (Pinellas Park) and Largo (Clearwater) studios. If you are a patient at another Imagine studio, you can still have it done — your doctor will coordinate the visit.
Ready to talk about the finishing touch?
Already an Imagine patient — current or past? Ask your doctor, or call 833-467-2778. New to Imagine? Schedule a free consultation — laser gum contouring is available as part of your treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
A topical numbing gel is applied before treatment. Some tenderness or sensitivity for a few days afterward is common and is usually managed with soft foods and gentle brushing. Every patient is different — your doctor will talk through what to expect for you.
Dr. Alison Starkenburg and Dr. Alissa Morris — board-certified orthodontists with specialized training in laser soft-tissue contouring — perform the procedure at our St. Petersburg and Largo studios.
More of each tooth shows, the gumline looks even, and puffy tissue that traps plaque is gone — so the finished smile looks the way your treatment intended and is easier to keep clean. It is typically completed in one visit by your own orthodontist. Individual results vary.
Either. During treatment, when overgrown tissue is getting in the way, or near the end of treatment — often at your debond appointment — as a finishing step.
Tissue that overgrew because of plaque can return if brushing and flossing slip, so home care matters. Contouring done to even out the gumline is generally long-lasting; your doctor will explain what to expect for your case.
It is an add-on to your orthodontic treatment at Imagine, and it can usually be added to your existing monthly payment plan. Your Treatment Coordinator will confirm the exact fee with you before anything is scheduled.
It is not always covered under orthodontic benefits and is not typically a covered benefit under Florida Medicaid dental plans. Your Treatment Coordinator will review the fee with you before anything is scheduled.
No — they address different causes. Botox or filler relaxes or reshapes the upper lip; laser gum contouring reshapes excess gum tissue. Your Imagine doctor will tell you which cause applies to you, and will refer you if gum contouring is not the right fit.
Gum contouring, gum lift, gum reshaping and gingivectomy are different names for the same soft-tissue procedure. Crown lengthening is different — it reshapes bone as well as gum and is usually done by a periodontist.
Yes. Overgrown or puffy gum tissue around brackets is one of the most common reasons we recommend it, and it can be done during treatment as well as at your debond appointment.
You’ll receive a printed after-care guide. In general: soft foods at first, gentle brushing around the area, and follow the rinsing instructions your doctor gives you. Questions? Call us at 833-467-2778.
The procedure is performed at our St. Petersburg (Pinellas Park) and Largo (Clearwater) studios. Patients from any Imagine studio are welcome — your doctor will coordinate the appointment there.
Right now, laser gum contouring is offered to Imagine patients — current, past, or starting treatment — as part of their orthodontic care. It is not available as a standalone service or for patients transferring mid-treatment from another office at this time. If you are new to Imagine, a free consultation is the place to start.