Gummy Smile Treatment in Marylebone and Central London.

At Ace Dental in Marylebone we offer crown lengthening and gum contouring to reveal more of your teeth and balance your smile.

Our experienced team serves patients from Central London, Soho and Paddington, using advanced techniques to create natural‑looking results.

Smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a white shirt in a softly blurred indoor setting.

At Ace Dental in Marylebone we offer crown lengthening and gum contouring to reveal more of your teeth and balance your smile.

Our experienced team serves patients from Central London, Soho and Paddington, using advanced techniques to create natural‑looking results.

Our support for nervous patients.

Reveal your smile 

Show more teeth and less gum

Custom contouring

Tailored gum shape for a natural look

Quick procedure

Treatment in under an hour

Advanced technology

Precision lasers and digital scans

Flexible finance

Spread the cost of your smile transformation

Fixing gummy smiles with crown lengthening and gum contouring.

Gums are essential for keeping your teeth in place. But if you feel you show too much gum when you smile, this can lead to you feeling self‑conscious and lacking in confidence. You may even stop smiling altogether or put your hand in front of your mouth when you smile or laugh. However, there are effective dental treatments which can improve the appearance of gummy smiles.

Dentist wearing mask and gloves using a digital scanner inside a patient's mouth with a dental arch image displayed on a screen.

What causes a gummy smile?

There are several reasons why you may show more gum than you would like to when you smile. An overgrowth of gum tissue, caused by genetics could be covering up part of your teeth. It may be that your teeth are particularly small or your gums too large, leading to an aesthetic imbalance.

Gummy smiles tend to be more common in women than in men. Your dentist will carry out a thorough investigation to discover the causes of your gummy smile before recommending the best treatment for you.

Close-up of a person exposing inflamed, red gums by pulling back the upper lip, showing teeth with gum irritation.

Just how much gum should be on show?

There have been lots of studies and focus group work carried out with dentists, plastic surgeons and patients to assess what makes the perfect smile. Most agree that only around 2 mm of gum should be showing when you smile. Anything over 3 mm or 4 mm starts to look “gummy”. If you aren’t happy about the amount of gum on display when you smile or laugh, you may want to consider treatment to improve the aesthetic appearance of your smile.

Person holding a dental model with one finger pointing at the teeth inside a dental office.

Gummy smile treatment

Crown lengthening is sometimes used for patients who need to have more tooth exposed so that they can have a crown fitted; it can also be an effective way to treat a gummy smile.

Crown lengthening involves reshaping and contouring the gum line by removing gum with a laser or scalpel. The lift reveals more of your teeth for a better‑looking smile. A gum lift can be carried out on just one tooth, several, or your whole gum line. It all depends on the look you want to achieve.

Dentist in mask and gloves examining a woman's teeth with dental tools while a dental assistant watches.

How long will the procedure take?

A crown lengthening treatment is generally done under local anaesthetic and can take less than an hour, depending on the number of teeth to be treated. It’s a fast, effective way to get rid of gummy smiles.

Dentist wearing mask and gloves holding a camera, preparing to take a photo of a smiling woman seated in a dental chair with a dental X-ray displayed on a monitor behind her.

How soon can I get back to my usual routine?

It is recommended that you stay away from any hard or sticky foods for two to three days after treatment to give your gums and teeth time to settle. It is also not recommended to floss until your gums are healed. You may also find that your teeth are more sensitive to hot and cold for a period of time, but within a few weeks, you will find you are fully recovered and ready to show off your new smile.

Smiling dentist wearing gloves examining cheerful female patient who is holding a mirror in a dental clinic.

Are there any other benefits to crown lengthening?

As well as improving the look of a gummy smile, the procedure can also help to prevent or treat gum disease as a result of trimming back some of the gum so you can clean your gum line more effectively.

Dentist in a mask and gloves explaining a document to an elderly male patient seated in a dental chair.

Your gummy smile journey.

Every smile is unique, and your treatment is carefully planned around you. Here’s what to expect:

1

Book your consultation

Arrange a no‑obligation appointment at our Marylebone practice to discuss your smile and goals.

Smiling elderly man with glasses reclining in a dental chair interacting with a masked dental professional.
2

Comprehensive assessment

We’ll examine your gums and teeth, take digital scans and plan your crown lengthening or gum contouring.

Dentist wearing gloves showing dental X-ray to a female patient sitting in a dental chair.
3

Tailored treatment

Under local anaesthetic we gently reshape your gum line using lasers or precise instruments.

Dentist wearing magnifying loupes and pink gloves performing dental checkup on a patient lying in a dental chair.
4

Recovery

Follow our aftercare advice and allow your gums to heal over a few weeks while avoiding hard foods and flossing.

Dentist wearing a mask and gloves showing a dental model to a young girl in a dental office.
5

Show off your new smile

Once healed you’ll be able to smile confidently with more tooth and less gum on show.

Smiling woman sitting in a dental chair wearing a blue dental bib in a bright clinic.

Start your smile transformation today.

A balanced smile can transform your confidence. Book your free consultation at our Marylebone clinic near Harley Street and take the first step to showing your smile with pride.

Smiling woman sitting in a dental chair listening to a standing dental professional.

"My teeth are fantastic, my confidence is SKY HIGH"

United Smile Centres.....Being afraid of dentists for so many years of my life, I had let go of my teeth to the point I was so embarressed to go out and socialise with friends, family and my work started to get affected due to my confidence issues.I then plucked up the courage to ring United Smile Centres and spoke to a lovely girl who put me at ease immediately on the phone......The day of my FREE consultation I was so nervous and scared that I almost didnt attend my appointment, but found the confidence to come in as I wanted to be ME again. Can I say what a fantastic team United Smile Centres have, they held my hand every step of the way.Having met the team a few times before the surgery I had built up enough trust to go ahead with this life changing procedure. I felt very safe throughout the treatment.My teeth are fantastic, my confidence is SKY HIGH and the best bit is I can laugh, giggle and smile without a care in the WORLD!!

S Kaur

"Incredible service from my first appointment"

Incredible service from my first appointment, really happy with the results and would recommend to anyone thinking about getting their teeth improved. Amazing!

Georgie Gough

"I had dental treatment here and I found them all to be very helpful and professional."

I had dental treatment here and I found them all to be very helpful and professional. I was put at ease when I was contacted by Lindsey the day before my treatment. My Treatment was by Robert and my aftercare by Jamie was perfect I go back every year for my checks with Jamie and will continue to do so.

Nicky Allen

"Truly amazing team who gave me tremendous confidence by giving me my much needed 'smile' back."

Truly amazing team who gave me tremendous confidence by giving me my much needed 'smile' back.I always think of them as the 'A Team'.

Rajeev Pal
White cabinet with various boxes and tubes of PARLA toothpaste displayed on top, purple orchid plant in a clear vase to the left, and ACE DENTAL logo on the wall behind.

Frequently asked questions about gummy smile treatment.

What causes a gummy smile?

Gummy smiles are often due to genetics – you may have an overgrowth of gum tissue or small teeth. Our Marylebone dentists will assess the cause and recommend treatment suited to your situation.

How does crown lengthening fix a gummy smile?

By gently removing excess gum tissue we expose more of your tooth and improve the balance of your smile. The procedure is quick and performed under local anaesthetic in our Central London clinic.

Is the procedure painful?

We numb the area so you feel little to no discomfort. Nervous patients from areas such as Soho and Paddington can also opt for IV sedation to help them relax.

How long does it take to recover?

Your gums will heal over a couple of weeks. Avoid hard or sticky foods for 2–3 days and follow our aftercare advice. Most patients resume normal activities soon after their appointment.

How much gum should show when I smile?

Studies suggest that around 2 mm of gum is ideal. If you show more than 3 mm and feel self‑conscious, crown lengthening could help you feel more confident.

Are there benefits beyond aesthetics?

Yes. Trimming back excess gum can make it easier to clean your teeth and reduce your risk of gum disease, improving both appearance and oral health.

Smiling woman in gray coat holding fries at a brightly lit night fair with a Ferris wheel and crowds in the background.
Three generations of women smiling outdoors with greenery in the background.
Smiling woman wearing a gray hoodie holding a small fluffy light brown dog.
Display of oral care products including toothpaste and tongue scrapers on a white cabinet beneath a wall sign reading ACE DENTAL, with a potted orchid and a transparent award also on the cabinet.
Woman smiling during a dental checkup with a dentist wearing gloves and using dental tools.
Dentist and dental assistant wearing masks and gloves treating a patient lying on a dental chair in a modern clinic.
Smiling woman in gray coat holding fries at a brightly lit night fair with a Ferris wheel and crowds in the background.
Three generations of women smiling outdoors with greenery in the background.
Smiling woman wearing a gray hoodie holding a small fluffy light brown dog.
Display of oral care products including toothpaste and tongue scrapers on a white cabinet beneath a wall sign reading ACE DENTAL, with a potted orchid and a transparent award also on the cabinet.
Woman smiling during a dental checkup with a dentist wearing gloves and using dental tools.
Dentist and dental assistant wearing masks and gloves treating a patient lying on a dental chair in a modern clinic.
Smiling woman in gray coat holding fries at a brightly lit night fair with a Ferris wheel and crowds in the background.
Three generations of women smiling outdoors with greenery in the background.
Smiling woman wearing a gray hoodie holding a small fluffy light brown dog.
Display of oral care products including toothpaste and tongue scrapers on a white cabinet beneath a wall sign reading ACE DENTAL, with a potted orchid and a transparent award also on the cabinet.
Woman smiling during a dental checkup with a dentist wearing gloves and using dental tools.
Dentist and dental assistant wearing masks and gloves treating a patient lying on a dental chair in a modern clinic.

Get in touch.

Marylebone.

Ace Dental

Lister House,

11-12 Wimpole Street,

Marylebone, London

W1G 9ST

Call us on:

0800 849 4959

Opening times:

Weekdays 9am - 6pm

Wanstead.

Ace Dental

11 High Street,

Wanstead, London

E11 2AA

Call us on:

020 8530 4230

Opening times:

Monday 9am - 6pm

Tuesday & Wednesday 9am - 7pm

Thursday 9am - 5:30pm

Friday 9am - 5pm

Saturday 9am - 2pm

Sunday Closed

Knightsbridge.

Rakus Dental

34 Hans Road,

Knightsbridge,

London,

SW3 1RW

Opening times:

Monday 9 am- 6 pm

Tuesday 9 am- 6 pm

Wednesday 9 am - 6 pm

Thursday 9 am - 6 pm

Friday 9 am - 6 pm

Saturday 10 am - 4 pm

Sunday Closed