Correcting a gummy smile with
A gummy smile (more than 3mm of gum visible when smiling) can usually be corrected in a single visit using soft-tissue laser contouring. Minimal discomfort, fast healing, immediate results.
⭐ 500+ five-star reviews · MAGD Master of the Academy of General Dentistry · Diamond+ Invisalign Provider
Precise, minimal-discomfort tissue contouring
For most gummy smiles caused by excess gum tissue covering teeth, we use a precision soft-tissue laser to gently reshape the gum line in a single visit. The laser cauterizes as it cuts — minimal bleeding, minimal discomfort, days of healing.

Some cases need a periodontist
For gummy smiles caused by bone-level issues (rather than just gum tissue), proper correction may require crown lengthening surgery — a more involved procedure. We’ll refer to a trusted periodontist when this is the right call.

I avoided the dentist for almost eight years. Dr. Pedersen and her team made me feel completely safe — no judgment, no lecture, just a real plan I could afford. Two years in and I never miss a cleaning.— Sarah M.
Complete care under one roof
Every service in the same office, with the same team that already knows your story.
Soft-tissue laser contouring
Single-visit gum reshaping for most cases.
Crown lengthening referral
For bone-level cases, referred to trusted periodontist.
Veneers + gum contouring combo
Reshape gums and add veneers in coordinated treatment plan.
Botox coordination
For hyperactive lip cases, we coordinate with trusted providers.
Free consultation
Honest assessment of which approach is right for your case.
Whitening + contouring
Brighten teeth while improving gum-to-tooth ratio.
Soft-tissue laser contouring
Single-visit gum reshaping for most cases.
Crown lengthening referral
For bone-level cases, referred to trusted periodontist.
Veneers + gum contouring combo
Reshape gums and add veneers in coordinated treatment plan.
Botox coordination
For hyperactive lip cases, we coordinate with trusted providers.
Free consultation
Honest assessment of which approach is right for your case.
Whitening + contouring
Brighten teeth while improving gum-to-tooth ratio.
Adjunctive option when the lip is the issue
Sometimes a gummy smile is caused by an overly mobile upper lip, not by tooth/gum proportions. In those cases, Botox in the upper lip muscle reduces lip elevation and improves the smile. We coordinate with trusted Botox providers for this.
![]()
What our patients actually say
Hundreds of 5-star reviews from real Overland Park, Johnson County, and Cass County families.
“I avoided the dentist for almost eight years. Dr. Pedersen and her team made me feel completely safe — no judgment, no lecture, just a real plan I could afford. Two years in and I never miss a cleaning.”
“We have four kids ranging from 6 to 17. Having one dental office that handles all of them — including my teenager’s Invisalign — has saved us so many hours of driving.”
“I’d been searching for a ‘natural dentist’ in Overland Park for two years. Finally found one that doesn’t make me feel weird for asking about my fillings.”
“Walked in convinced I needed a root canal. They diagnosed a cracked filling and fixed it the same day for a fraction of what I’d been quoted. Honest, fast, painless.”
“I avoided the dentist for almost eight years. Dr. Pedersen and her team made me feel completely safe — no judgment, no lecture, just a real plan I could afford. Two years in and I never miss a cleaning.”
“We have four kids ranging from 6 to 17. Having one dental office that handles all of them — including my teenager’s Invisalign — has saved us so many hours of driving.”
“I’d been searching for a ‘natural dentist’ in Overland Park for two years. Finally found one that doesn’t make me feel weird for asking about my fillings.”
“Walked in convinced I needed a root canal. They diagnosed a cracked filling and fixed it the same day for a fraction of what I’d been quoted. Honest, fast, painless.”
“Cracked a molar on a Tuesday morning. Called at 8am, was in the chair by 11 with a same-day temporary crown. They saved my workweek.”
“I’d been hiding my smile for a decade. Now I forget I have implants until someone compliments my teeth.”
“Quoted four veneers somewhere else. Dr. Pedersen showed me a digital preview and we ended up doing bonding on two teeth and whitening — same result, a fraction of the cost.”
“The Smile Club paid for itself in the first six months. As a freelancer with no insurance, this is the only reason I actually get my teeth cleaned twice a year now.”
“Cracked a molar on a Tuesday morning. Called at 8am, was in the chair by 11 with a same-day temporary crown. They saved my workweek.”
“I’d been hiding my smile for a decade. Now I forget I have implants until someone compliments my teeth.”
“Quoted four veneers somewhere else. Dr. Pedersen showed me a digital preview and we ended up doing bonding on two teeth and whitening — same result, a fraction of the cost.”
“The Smile Club paid for itself in the first six months. As a freelancer with no insurance, this is the only reason I actually get my teeth cleaned twice a year now.”
“Dr. Pedersen finished my Invisalign in eleven months. My old dentist (Bronze tier) had quoted twenty. Experience really does matter.”
“Having a Diamond+ Invisalign Provider this close to home meant my daughter didn’t have to miss school for every check-in. They explained everything to her like she was the patient, not me.”
“My six-year-old now asks when we get to go back to the dentist. That has never happened in any office before. The team is something else.”
“My implant looks better than the tooth it replaced. Every step explained, every cost in writing up front, zero surprises on the bill.”
“Dr. Pedersen finished my Invisalign in eleven months. My old dentist (Bronze tier) had quoted twenty. Experience really does matter.”
“Having a Diamond+ Invisalign Provider this close to home meant my daughter didn’t have to miss school for every check-in. They explained everything to her like she was the patient, not me.”
“My six-year-old now asks when we get to go back to the dentist. That has never happened in any office before. The team is something else.”
“My implant looks better than the tooth it replaced. Every step explained, every cost in writing up front, zero surprises on the bill.”
Visit us in Overland Park or Peculiar
Records and treatment plans travel with you between offices — so a move across the metro never means starting over with a new dentist.

Overland Park, KS
Overland Park, KS 66210

Peculiar, MO
Peculiar, MO 64078
Part of a bigger picture
This is one option in our full cosmetic offering. Start at the cosmetic dentistry hub if you’re not sure where to begin, or explore related options:
Who we see
Patients across the Kansas City metro come to Love To Smile for honest gummy smile evaluations.

Most major PPO insurance accepted
We verify benefits before your appointment and file claims for you. No insurance? Ask about the Smile Club.
Frequently asked questions
How much does gummy smile correction cost?
Soft-tissue laser contouring typically runs $500–$1,500 depending on the number of teeth involved. Crown lengthening (surgical) is $1,500–$3,500.
Is gummy smile correction painful?
No — local anesthesia plus the precision of laser technology makes most procedures comparable to a routine filling. Most patients return to normal activity the next day.
How long does the result last?
Soft-tissue contouring results are permanent. Crown lengthening results are permanent. Botox-based correction lasts 3–6 months and requires re-treatment.
Will my insurance cover gummy smile correction?
Cosmetic gum contouring is typically not covered. If gum tissue is excessive due to a medical condition, partial coverage may apply.
How do I know if my case needs laser or surgery?
Soft-tissue cases (where extra gum tissue covers tooth structure) respond to laser. Bone-level cases (where the bone itself is too high) need crown lengthening. A free consultation tells us which it is.
Can I see the result before treatment?
Yes — we provide a digital simulation of the projected post-treatment smile during your consultation.
How long is recovery?
Soft-tissue laser: minor discomfort for 1–3 days, full healing in 7–10 days. Crown lengthening surgery: more involved healing, typically 4–6 weeks for full bone integration.
Book a free gummy smile consultation.
Includes a digital simulation of your projected post-treatment smile and an honest assessment of which approach is right for your case.