Too much gum over normal teeth
The gum never moved back fully after the teeth came in, or has overgrown. The teeth are a normal length but partly hidden, so they look short and square.
Gum, teeth, lip or jaw
Gummy Smile Treatment in Dubai: Matching the Option to the Cause
Medically reviewed by Dr. Kinan Bonni, Dentist · DHA Professional Unique ID 00180966 · October 2026
A gummy smile has four possible causes, and each one is treated differently. The assessment measures which one you have before any laser, braces or veneers are suggested.
- Cause measured before any plan
- Laser gum contouring at the clinic
- Written plan with every stage priced
A smiling photo and a relaxed-lip photo on WhatsApp help the dentist give a first opinion.
The cause comes firstGum, tooth length, lip and jaw are each checked before a plan is written.
Hand finishing in the lab
Our smiles
See before-and-after casesSmiles made at Creative Arts
Designed in the clinic and made by hand in Creative Art Dental Lab, in the same building in Jumeirah, Dubai.
Quick answer
What is the treatment for a gummy smile in Dubai?
Gummy smile treatment depends on the cause. Excess gum over normal-length teeth is usually reshaped with laser gum contouring; bone sitting too close needs a crown lengthening assessment; over-erupted front teeth may need orthodontics; short or worn teeth may get veneers once the gum has settled. A long upper jaw needs a referral for jaw surgery. At Creative Arts in Dubai the cause is measured first, then a written plan follows.
Who treats you here Dr. Taban Ameen Dentist · Dr. Duaa Emran Cosmetic Dentist · Dr. Kinan Bonni Dentist · Dr. Khalid Saeed Co-founder & Dentist
Every dentist’s licence can be checked on the DHA Sheryan medical directory.
27 yearsIn-house dental laboratory in the same building
Written planItemised treatment plan before you commit
Open daily10:00–20:00, seven days a week
Jumeirah 3614 Jumeira St, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
Four causes
Gum, teeth, lip or jaw: which one is making your smile gummy?
Many people have more than one. Each cause has its own fix, which is why treating the wrong one changes little.
Teeth that really are short
Grinding, acid wear or chipping has shortened the biting edges, or the teeth are naturally small. The gum is in the right place; the teeth need length.
Front teeth that have drifted down
In a deep bite the upper front teeth can over-erupt, bringing their gum line down with them. Moving the teeth moves the gum.
A lip that lifts high
A short or very mobile upper lip shows more gum over normal teeth and gums. Dental treatment does not change how the lip moves.
An upper jaw that is long vertically
When the upper jaw has grown downward more than usual, gum shows even with the lips relaxed. This is a jaw question, not a gum one.
Private consultation
Your smile, planned with a dentist — before you decide
Tell us what you would like to change. A dentist reviews it, and you receive a written plan with prices before any treatment.
- First consultation free
- Free photo assessment on WhatsApp
- A written, itemised plan with prices before any treatment
A
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Tell us what you would like to change. We reply on WhatsApp or by phone during opening hours.
- First consultation free
- Free photo assessment on WhatsApp
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The assessment
What is measured before gummy smile treatment is recommended?
A few measurements usually separate the causes. They take one visit and are recorded with photographs.
Gum shown at rest and at full smile
How many millimetres of gum show with the lips relaxed and when you smile broadly. Gum showing at rest points away from the gum itself.
PhotosTooth length and width
Front teeth usually look balanced when their width is roughly three-quarters of their length. Square-looking teeth suggest hidden tooth or real shortness.
MeasuredWhere the gum and bone sit
Probing and an X-ray show how much gum lies over the enamel and how close the bone is. This decides between gum contouring and crown lengthening.
Exam and X-rayLip length and movement
How far the upper lip lifts when you smile, compared with typical movement.
MeasuredBite and jaw
A deep bite, over-erupted front teeth or signs of vertical jaw excess lead to an orthodontic or surgical opinion.
Bite check
Options
Which gummy smile treatment fits which cause?
From the simplest option to the most involved. Most plans use one or two of these.
| Cause found | Usual option | Who handles it | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inflamed or overgrown gum | Gum treatment and cleaning first | The clinic's gum dentists | Swelling often settles, and a second look decides if more is needed |
| Excess gum over normal-length teeth | Laser gum contouring | Dentists who carry out laser gum work | Local anaesthetic; gum usually heals over one to two weeks |
| Excess gum with bone close to the tooth edge | Crown lengthening assessment | Assessed by your dentist; whether it is done here or by referral is decided then | Bone reshaping as well as gum, with a longer healing period |
| Over-erupted front teeth or a deep bite | Braces or Invisalign | The clinic's specialist orthodontists | Months of treatment; gum contouring may follow for fine-tuning |
| Short, worn or small teeth | Veneers or crowns, after any contouring | Cosmetic dentists with our laboratory | Gum allowed to settle before the veneers are designed |
| Upper jaw long vertically | Referral for orthognathic (jaw) surgery | Assessed and planned by Dr. Firas Osman, then referred | Done in a hospital under general anaesthesia, usually with orthodontics |
| Lip lifts high over normal teeth and gum | No gum or tooth treatment changes this | Explained at the assessment | Sometimes small gum or tooth changes help balance; often nothing is needed |
The full background on causes is in the guide what causes a gummy smile.
Beyond the dental chair
Which gummy smiles need another specialty?
A long upper jaw. When gum shows even with the lips relaxed and the measurements point to the jaw, gum contouring or veneers will not fix it. Orthognathic surgery moves the upper jaw, and is usually combined with braces before and after. General anaesthesia is not available at the clinic, so this surgery takes place in a hospital: Dr. Firas Osman, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, assesses, plans and refers, and explains where it is done.
The lip. If the upper lip is the main cause, dental work cannot change how far it lifts. Treatments aimed at the lip itself are not part of the dental options on this page; the dentist tells you honestly what gum or tooth changes could, and could not, achieve.
Medicines. Some blood-pressure, epilepsy and immune medicines can cause gum overgrowth. The gum is treated here, and your prescribing doctor decides whether any medicine can change.
Combined plans
When a gummy smile plan includes veneers, what comes first?
The order matters more than any single step, because each stage changes the frame for the next:
- Healthy gums first. Inflamed gum sits higher and swollen; contouring it gives a false line.
- Teeth moved before gum is trimmed. If orthodontics is part of the plan, the gum line follows the teeth, so contouring waits.
- Gum contouring, then time. The new gum line is left to mature, usually several weeks, before final veneer records.
- Veneers designed on the settled gum. The mock-up shows the final tooth length and gum line together.
The page on veneers with gum contouring covers that combined plan in detail.
Is it worth it?
When is gummy smile treatment a good idea, and when is it better to wait?
Usually worth assessing
- Your teeth look short or square and gum covers part of them
- The gum line is uneven on one or two front teeth
- You are planning veneers or crowns on the front teeth
- Gum shows at a normal smile and it bothers you
Often better to wait or skip
- Gum shows only during a very wide laugh, which is common and normal
- Teenagers, whose gum line usually keeps moving as the teeth finish erupting
- Gums that are inflamed or bleeding, until they are treated
- When the lip is the only cause, where gum or tooth work will change little
Cost
What decides the cost of gummy smile treatment?
The price is in your written, itemised plan after a free first consultation, with each stage listed separately. The gum contouring cost guide explains quotes for the gum stage.
- The causeGum-only reshaping is a smaller job than work involving bone, orthodontics or a surgical referral.
- How many teethLevelling one or two teeth differs from reshaping the whole smile line from canine to canine.
- Combined stagesOrthodontics and veneers are priced as their own stages, so you can see each one before agreeing.
- Referral costsHospital-based jaw surgery is planned with the surgeon and the hospital, and its costs sit outside the clinic plan.
Who treats you
Who assesses and treats gummy smiles here?
Dr. Taban Ameen carries out laser gum work; Dr. Duaa Emran, Dr. Kinan Bonni and Dr. Khalid Saeed plan the veneer stage. Orthodontic questions go to Dr. Muhannad Kazzaz, specialist orthodontist. More answers are on the gum questions page, and finished smiles are in the smile gallery.
Further reading from independent sources
Independent sources for readers who want the wider evidence on this topic. Study figures are averages, not a promise for any one patient.
- American Academy of Periodontology. Surgical Procedures. American Academy of Periodontology.
- American Academy of Periodontology. AAP Publishes Proceedings from Best Evidence Consensus Meeting on Lasers (Journal of Periodontology, July 2018). American Academy of Periodontology, 2018.
Patient questions
Frequently asked questions
How much gum showing counts as a gummy smile?
There is no strict rule, but many dentists start to describe a smile as gummy when roughly 3 to 4 mm or more of gum shows above the upper front teeth during a natural smile. What matters more is whether it bothers you, and what is causing it. Showing a little gum is common and often looks youthful.
Can braces or Invisalign fix a gummy smile?
Sometimes. When the upper front teeth have over-erupted, often with a deep bite, moving them up with braces or aligners brings the gum line with them. Orthodontics does not remove excess gum or change a long upper jaw on its own, so it may be combined with gum contouring or, for jaw causes, with surgery.
Can a gummy smile be treated without surgery?
Partly, depending on the cause. Gum treatment can shrink swollen gums, orthodontics can move over-erupted teeth, and veneers can add length to short teeth. Laser gum contouring is a minor procedure under local anaesthetic rather than major surgery. A long upper jaw, however, cannot be corrected without jaw surgery.
Which gummy smile treatment lasts the longest?
Treatment that fixes the true cause lasts. Contouring gum over teeth of normal length is usually stable once healed, but if bone sits too close to the new gum line, the gum tends to grow back, which is why bone is checked first. Orthodontic results need retainers, and veneers need ordinary care and check-ups.
Is gummy smile treatment suitable for teenagers?
Usually not for cosmetic gum reshaping. In teenagers the gum line often keeps moving as the teeth finish erupting, so contouring is normally postponed until growth has settled. Orthodontic treatment for a deep bite can start earlier, and gum swelling caused by braces or poor cleaning is treated at any age.
Will my teeth look longer after gummy smile treatment?
If excess gum was hiding normal-length teeth, yes: removing it uncovers tooth that was already there, so the teeth look longer and narrower. If the teeth are genuinely short, gum work alone may expose root rather than enamel, which is why veneers or crowns are sometimes planned instead.
How do I know if my gummy smile comes from my jaw?
A clue is gum that shows even with your lips relaxed and closed lightly, together with a long lower face or lips that strain to close. Only an examination confirms it. If the jaw is the cause, the dentist explains the orthodontic and surgical route, and Dr. Firas Osman assesses and plans any referral.
Keep exploring
Related treatments
ProcedureLaser gum contouringHow the gum line is reshaped, healing and what to expect.Combined planVeneers with gum contouringWhy the gum is reshaped first and how long to wait.GuideCrown lengtheningWhen bone, not just gum, has to be adjusted.CostGum contouring costWhat a gummy smile quote depends on.CosmeticCosmetic dentistry in DubaiVeneers, whitening, bonding and smile design.
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One clinic, in Jumeirah 3 / Umm Suqeim 1
Creative Arts has a single clinic on Jumeira Street (Jumeirah Beach Road). Ask about parking when you book.
- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
- Opening hoursDaily 10:00–20:00, including Friday and Sunday
- Neighbouring areasJumeirah 1–3, Umm Suqeim 1–3, Al Wasl, Al Safa, Al Manara
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- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai · Our clinic in Jumeirah 3 / Umm Suqeim 1
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- Phone+971 4 342 4444 · WhatsApp +971 56 677 7537
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Rated 4.8 on Google from 238 patient reviews (October 2026).