Gum Contouring in Washington, PA
A gummy smile or uneven gumline can make beautiful teeth look smaller, shorter, or off-balance — even when there's nothing wrong with the teeth themselves. Enhanced Wellness offers laser gum contouring in Washington, PA to reshape your gumline in a single visit. The result is a more balanced, proportionate smile with minimal downtime.
What Is Gum Contouring?
Gum contouring — also called gum reshaping or crown lengthening — is a cosmetic procedure that removes or reshapes excess gum tissue to expose more of the natural tooth and create a more balanced gumline. At Enhanced Wellness, Dr. Wakim uses laser technology to perform gum contouring with precision, minimal bleeding, and faster healing than traditional scalpel methods.
The procedure is permanent. Once gum tissue is removed it doesn't grow back, making this a one-time treatment with long-lasting results. Most patients are surprised by how significant a difference a subtle gum adjustment can make — suddenly their teeth look longer, more proportional, and the whole smile looks more symmetrical.
Gum contouring is also performed for functional reasons — specifically crown lengthening, where more tooth structure needs to be exposed before placing a crown or other restoration.
Fixes a Gummy Smile
If your gums cover too much of your teeth when you smile, contouring exposes more tooth and creates better proportions.
Corrects Uneven Gumline
An asymmetrical gumline — where gums sit higher on some teeth than others — is evened out for a more symmetrical smile.
Crown Lengthening
Exposing more tooth structure before placing a crown, veneer, or other restoration — also improves smile aesthetics.
Improves Oral Hygiene
Excess gum tissue creates deep pockets where bacteria accumulate. Removing it makes cleaning easier and reduces gum disease risk.
Permanent Results
Removed gum tissue doesn't grow back. One appointment delivers a lasting change — no touch-ups, no maintenance treatments.
Minimal Downtime
Laser gum contouring causes minimal bleeding, reduces infection risk, and heals faster than traditional scalpel methods.
Are You a Good Candidate?
Gum contouring works best for patients with healthy gums who are unhappy with the appearance of their gumline. Dr. Wakim will assess your gum tissue, bone levels, and overall oral health at your consultation.
Gum contouring may be right for you if...
- Your gums cover too much of your teeth (gummy smile)
- Your gumline is noticeably uneven or asymmetrical
- Your teeth look shorter than they should
- You've finished Invisalign and want to refine your gumline
- You're planning veneers and need crown lengthening first
- You have excess gum tissue around specific teeth
- Your gums are otherwise healthy with no active disease
- You want a permanent cosmetic improvement in one visit
⚠️ When gum contouring isn't the right first step
Active gum disease, significant gum recession, or thin gum tissue need to be addressed before cosmetic contouring is considered. Dr. Wakim will be upfront if other treatment needs to come first — gum health always takes priority over cosmetics.
What to Expect at Enhanced Wellness
Gum contouring is completed in a single visit at Enhanced Wellness. Dr. Wakim uses laser technology for precise, comfortable tissue removal with minimal bleeding and faster healing.
Consultation & Design
Dr. Wakim examines your gums, checks gum and bone health, and maps out the new gumline. She'll show you exactly how much tissue will be removed and what your smile will look like after — so there are no surprises.
~20–30 minutesLocal Anesthesia
The treatment area is numbed completely with local anesthetic. You should feel no pain during the procedure — just some pressure and mild vibration from the laser handpiece.
~5 minutesLaser Contouring
Dr. Wakim uses a soft tissue laser to precisely remove and reshape gum tissue along the planned gumline. The laser simultaneously seals blood vessels as it works — meaning minimal bleeding and a much cleaner result than scalpel techniques.
~30–60 minutes depending on scopeRecovery
Most patients experience mild soreness and swelling for 2–3 days, easily managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and soft foods. You'll see your full results once the gums have healed completely — typically within 1–3 weeks.
2–3 days mild discomfort · Full results in 1–3 weeksGum Contouring as Part of a Smile Makeover
Gum contouring is often most impactful when combined with other cosmetic treatments. It's commonly the finishing touch that pulls an entire smile transformation together — or the necessary first step before veneers or crowns can be placed.
Veneers + Gum Contouring
One of the most common combinations. Gum contouring creates the ideal tooth proportions first, then veneers perfect color, shape, and surface. The result is a completely redesigned smile.
Teeth Whitening + Gum Contouring
Exposing more of the tooth surface with contouring makes whitening results even more dramatic — more tooth to brighten.
Invisalign + Gum Contouring
After straightening teeth with Invisalign, some patients find the gumline is the last thing holding back their smile. Contouring provides the finishing touch.
Crown Lengthening + Crowns
Before placing a crown on a tooth that hasn't fully erupted or has extensive decay near the gumline, contouring exposes enough tooth structure for a proper, lasting restoration.
Trusted by Washington, PA for 15+ Years
Dr. Elizabeth Wakim has been reshaping smiles across Washington County for over 15 years. Her use of laser technology for gum contouring delivers more precise results with significantly less post-procedure discomfort than traditional methods — and her eye for proportion and symmetry means the new gumline looks natural, not over-treated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reshape Your Gumline in Washington, PA
One visit. Permanent results. Call Enhanced Wellness to find out if gum contouring is the missing piece of your smile.