Great Smiles Start with a Great Foundation

Just like any strong building needs a solid foundation, a great smile starts with healthy, balanced gums. When your gum line is even and your teeth are in proportion, your smile can truly shine.

We specialize in gum surgery to gently reshape the gum line and replace missing gum tissue—helping your smile look its best and stay healthy for years to come.

Why the Gum Line Matters

Your gums frame your teeth—so when the gum line is uneven or too high or low, it can affect the overall look of your smile. Common concerns include:

  • Excess gum tissue that makes teeth look short or uneven

  • Receding gums that expose tooth roots and cause sensitivity

  • Asymmetrical gums that throw off the balance of your smile

These issues aren’t just cosmetic. Gum recession, for example, can lead to other oral health problems if not treated.

 

Gum Contouring

For some of us, a “gummy smile” can make teeth appear smaller than they actually are. This happens when there’s too much gum tissue covering the teeth, throwing off the natural balance and proportion of the smile.

Fortunately, there's a simple solution. Gum contouring—also known as crown lengthening—is a precise procedure that removes excess gum tissue and reshapes the gum line. By revealing more of your natural tooth surface, it helps create a more balanced, attractive smile.

Often, even small adjustments can lead to big improvements in both appearance and confidence.

Gum Grafts

When gum tissue pulls away from the teeth—a condition known as gum recession—it can expose the sensitive roots of your teeth and affect the look of your smile. Over time, this can also lead to discomfort and increased risk of tooth or bone loss.

Gum grafting is a proven treatment used to replace missing gum tissue and cover exposed roots. In addition to making your smile look healthier and more attractive, grafts can:

  • Reduce tooth sensitivity

  • Protect vulnerable tooth roots

  • Support the long-term health of your teeth and jawbone

If you’ve noticed your gums pulling back or teeth looking “longer” than they used to, a gum graft may be the solution to restore both function and aesthetics.

Gum Recession Before

Gum Recession Before

After Connective Tissue Graft

After Connective Tissue Graft

Before

Before

After

After

"Gummy" Smile Before

"Gummy" Smile Before

After

After

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE DAY OF YOUR GUM GRAFT

When you arrive for your gum graft, our compassionate team will greet you and take care of any necessary paperwork, prescriptions and payment, ensuring everything is in place—including scheduling your follow‑up visit to monitor healing. Once you're ready, you'll be guided to the surgical area where local anesthesia will be administered to numb both the donor region (usually the roof of your mouth) and the recipient site. Additional sedation options are available as needed. Please see IV sedation page.

Prior to the start of the surgery, we will take a mold of your upper jaw. We will make a protective mouth guard to help you feel comfortable during healing.

During the procedure, Dr. Jensen will prepare the recipient site by gently creating a flap near the recessed gum and then harvest a small piece of connective tissue from your palate. The graft will be sutured into place. You'll remain comfortably numb throughout.

***IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT TOUCH OR PULL ON THE AREA*** DR. JENSEN WILL TAKE A PICTURE OF IT WITH YOUR PHONE IF YOU’D LIKE TO SEE IT***

After the surgery, you’ll head home to rest. It’s best to take the remainder of the day easy, avoiding strenuous activity, especially if sedation was used. You may experience mild bleeding, swelling, and tenderness—this is entirely normal.

As the anesthesia wears off, you might feel some discomfort in both areas—the graft site might feel tender, but the donor area on the palate may be more sensitive (some describe it like a “pizza burn,” which fades over the first week). To manage discomfort, follow the medication schedule provided—this may include NSAIDs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and sometimes prescribed pain relief if needed.

Your dietary comfort matters. Stick to soft, cool, high‑protein foods (like yogurt, eggs, mashed potatoes) and avoid hot, crunchy, spicy, sticky, or acidic items for at least the first several days. Use the untreated side of your mouth to chew. Icing the outside of your face intermittently (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) can help reduce swelling and soothe discomfort for the first day.

Follow-up is essential. You'll return in two weeks for a check‑up, which may include suture removal. Healing will continue over several weeks—most of the early discomfort resolves within two weeks, but complete integration and maturation of the graft may take several months.

If at any point you notice unusual symptoms—such as persistent or heavy bleeding, escalating pain, swelling, fever, or signs of infection—please reach out to us promptly. 


Book a Consultation

We’ll take the time to understand your needs and goals, then create a personalized treatment plan tailored just for you.