Gum Contouring Cost

How Much Does Gum Contouring Cost?

	Per Tooth: $50-$350
	Full-Mouth Contouring: $1,000-$3,000+

Disease, reactions to prescription medications or other issues can cause the gums to grow over the teeth, producing a "gummy" smile in which the teeth appear smaller than they actually are and possibly look uneven or misshaped. Also called a gum lift, a gingivectomy removes damaged or excess gum tissue and is typically followed by a gingivoplasty (sometimes called crown lengthening), which shapes and thins the remaining gum tissue to look more natural and fit better around the teeth.

Typical costs:

• It can cost $50-$350 to remove and shape the gum around a single tooth, depending on the extent of the work needed, local rates and the expertise and reputation of the dentist or periodontist (gum specialist). However, overgrowth or damage is not usually limited to the area around a single tooth, and total costs for crown lengthening (extensive gum reshaping that removes both gum and bone tissue) from all the visible front teeth can be $1,000-$3,000 or more.
• Gum contouring is usually considered cosmetic, and typically is not covered by dental insurance.

What should be included:

• Both dentists and periodontists perform gum contouring procedures. The doctor will typically numb the area, then use scalpels, lasers and/or radiosurgery tools to cut away excess tissue and reshape the remaining gums. In the case of more extensive crown lengthening procedures, the doctor will also remove bone at the root of the tooth for better long-term results. The American Academy of Periodontology provides before and after photos of a dental crown lengthening procedure.
• Most gum contouring procedures are completed in a single appointment, and the results are typically permanent. If a small amount of gum tissue needs to be removed, it usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes, and healing may require a few days to a few weeks. The crown lengthening procedure that removes both gum and bone tissue can take one to two hours, and the healing period may last four to six weeks. WebMD has an overview of the gum reshaping process[1] .

• Gum contouring is often done in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures like veneers ($500-$1,100 per tooth), cosmetic dental bonding ($100-$1,000 per tooth) or crowns ($500-$3,000 or more per tooth). The gum reshaping may be included in the total fee for the related procedure.

• Dental school clinics[2] offer reduced rates for services by supervised students or faculty.
• The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research lists tips for finding low-cost dental care[3] .

• If the patient has dental insurance, the insurance company will provide a list of approved dentists and periodontists. Or search for local members of the American Dental Association[4] , American Academy of Periodontology[5] or the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists[6] .
• WedMD lists things to consider when choosing a dentist[7] .
• Since cosmetic procedures like gum contouring are typically not covered by insurance, most dental or periodontal offices will provide financing options ranging from a discount for paying the full amount in cash to payment plans to loans from outside financial institutions.