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A gummy smile means too much gum tissue shows above the upper teeth when you smile. In a balanced smile, roughly 1 to 2 millimeters of gum are visible; beyond 3 to 4 millimeters, the gums start to compete with the teeth for attention. It is very common, completely harmless medically, and today it is one of the simplest smile problems to correct.

Several factors, often combined: excess gum tissue covering part of the teeth (altered passive eruption), a hyperactive upper lip that lifts too high when smiling, a short upper lip, or vertical overgrowth of the upper jaw bone. Identifying the true cause is the key step, because each cause has a different treatment. This is why proper diagnosis by an oral surgeon matters more than the procedure itself.

A dental laser precisely reshapes the gumline and removes the excess tissue, revealing the natural length of the teeth. The laser seals the tissue as it works, so there is minimal bleeding, no scalpel, and in most cases no sutures. The new gumline is designed to follow the smile line, tooth by tooth. At Smile Infinity Ferrari Dental Clinic in Beirut, this is performed by Dr. Habib Zarifeh, who holds an MSc in Laser Dentistry from RWTH Aachen University, Germany.

No. The procedure is done under simple local anesthesia and patients feel no pain during treatment. Because the laser cauterizes as it reshapes, post-operative discomfort is far less than with conventional gum surgery: most patients describe mild sensitivity for a day or two, managed with ordinary pain relief. Many return to work the same day.

A minor gummy smile is typically corrected in a single session of about 30 to 60 minutes, with immediate visible results. Gum healing is fast: the tissue surface recovers within days and matures fully over a few weeks. You can eat and speak normally almost immediately, with simple instructions to follow for the first days.

When the correction is planned correctly, yes. If excess gum tissue was the cause and the biologic width around each tooth is respected, the gums do not grow back. In cases driven by bone level, the underlying bone is recontoured at the same time precisely so the result holds for life. This surgical planning is where experience makes the difference.

A minor gummy smile involves a limited band of excess gum and is treated with laser reshaping alone in one visit. A major gummy smile involves a hyperactive lip, skeletal excess, or several millimeters of display, and may combine laser gum surgery with upper lip repositioning and, when indicated, bone recontouring. Both are treated at our Beirut centers; the diagnosis determines the plan.

Absolutely, and it often should be. Reshaping the gumline first creates the correct tooth proportions, and the veneers or Lumineers are then designed on that new architecture. Gum design plus smile design in one coordinated plan is how a Hollywood Smile achieves a natural, harmonious result rather than short, square-looking teeth.

Dr. Habib Zarifeh is an international cosmetic dentist and oral surgeon, Head of Oral Surgery at CMC Hospital Beirut (Johns Hopkins International affiliated), with an MSc in Laser Dentistry from RWTH Aachen University, Germany. He is the founder of Smile Infinity Medical Centers across 12 countries, and Ferrari Dental Clinic was the first ISO 9001-certified dental clinic in the Middle East. Gummy smile correction here is not a side service; it is a dedicated specialty backed by hospital-grade standards.

Yes. Laser gummy smile correction is one of the most travel-friendly procedures in cosmetic dentistry: a single session, immediate results, and no need for a long recovery on site. Our international office coordinates your consultation, treatment plan, and appointments before you arrive, so your visit to Beirut is planned to the day. Many of our patients combine treatment with a holiday in Lebanon.

Every smile is different, so the honest answer starts with your case: the cause, the number of teeth involved, and whether lip or bone correction is needed. Send us a photo of your smile on WhatsApp at +961 3 739783 and you will receive a personal assessment and a clear treatment plan with your quote, directly from our team.