- Address
- 26 North Park Boulevard
- Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
- Get Directions
- Phone
- (630) 858-8800
- SmileGlenEllyn@gmail.com
If you’ve ever held back a laugh because you felt your smile showed more gum than teeth, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to live with it. Gummy smile treatment is one of the most rewarding cosmetic dentistry procedures we offer at Smile Glen Ellyn because the results are immediate, lasting, and genuinely life-changing. Whether your gum line coverage is mild or dramatic, we offer laser gum lifts, crown lengthening, and Botox solutions tailored to the actual cause of your gummy smile — not a one-size-fits-all fix.
We serve patients throughout Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Lombard, Naperville, and Downers Grove, IL. If you’re searching for a gum lift near you, we’re ready to help. Call our dental practice in Glen Ellyn at (630) 858-8800 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Jessica Gibbs at Smile Glen Ellyn.
Plenty of dental offices offer gum contouring. Here’s why patients from Glen Ellyn and the surrounding suburbs choose us:
A gummy smile, clinically called excessive gingival display, is diagnosed when more than 2–3 millimeters of gum tissue is visible when you smile. It’s more common than most people realize: studies show gummy smiles affect between 10% and 29% of the population, occurring more frequently in women than men.
The condition isn’t a sign of poor oral health. But for many patients, it creates real self-consciousness—a habit of covering your mouth when you laugh, tight-lipped photos, or an ongoing feeling that your teeth just look “too small.” That perception is valid, and it’s entirely fixable.
A balanced smile typically shows the full length of your upper front teeth with just 1–2mm of gum tissue visible at the gumline. When that ratio is off, the entire smile can look disproportionate—even if your teeth themselves are perfectly healthy and properly sized.
Understanding the root cause of your gummy smile is the first step toward the right treatment. At Smile Glen Ellyn, Dr. Gibbs evaluates each patient individually because the same visual symptom — too much gum showing — can stem from very different underlying factors. Here are the most common causes:
Gummy Smile Before Gum Lift
New Smile After Laser Gum Lift Treatment
Not every gummy smile requires the same solution. After a thorough evaluation, Dr. Gibbs will recommend the approach or combination of approaches that best addresses your specific cause and goals. Here’s what we offer:
This is our most popular treatment for gummy smiles caused by excess gum tissue, and for good reason: it’s fast, minimally invasive, and delivers results you can see the same day.
Using an advanced diode soft-tissue laser, Dr. Gibbs carefully removes and reshapes the excess gum tissue around your teeth, sculpting a new gum line that reveals more of each tooth’s natural crown. The precision of laser technology means no scalpels, no stitches, and virtually no bleeding during the procedure. Most patients are surprised at how comfortable the process is.
What to expect:
Who it’s best for: Patients with excess gum tissue from altered passive eruption, medication-induced hyperplasia, or post-orthodontic gum enlargement.
Are the results permanent? Yes. Once gum tissue is removed with a laser, it does not grow back in the treated area. The results are long-lasting, provided you maintain good oral hygiene and attend regular cleanings.
When a hyperactive upper lip is the cause of your gummy smile, no amount of gum tissue removal will solve the problem—because the tissue itself is normal. In these cases, Botox is the most targeted and appropriate treatment.
Small, precise Botox injections into the upper lip’s elevator muscles (levator labii superioris and/or orbicularis oris) temporarily reduce how high the lip rises when you smile. The result: the same smile, just with significantly less gum visible. The procedure takes less than 15 minutes, requires no downtime, and results typically last 3–6 months.
Who it’s best for: Patients whose gummy smile is caused by a hyperactive upper lip, or patients who want a non-surgical option before committing to a permanent procedure.
Crown lengthening goes one step further than a soft-tissue laser lift. When excess gum tissue extends alongside excess bone tissue at the base of the tooth, removing gum alone may not create a fully balanced result. Crown lengthening addresses both layers—gum tissue and supporting bone—to expose a greater portion of the tooth crown and create a natural-looking, proportional smile.
This procedure is performed with local anesthesia and is highly precise. Recovery typically involves a soft diet for a week and over-the-counter pain management. Crown lengthening can also be used therapeutically—to expose enough of a severely decayed or fractured tooth to allow a crown or other restoration to be placed properly.
Who it’s best for: Patients with more significant gum tissue coverage, patients combining gum treatment with crown or veneer restorations, or those whose clinical exam reveals bone involvement alongside excess soft tissue.
For many patients, the most transformative results come from combining gum lift treatment with other cosmetic procedures. Common pairings include:
If your gummy smile is one piece of a larger cosmetic puzzle, Dr. Gibbs can design a full smile makeover plan that addresses everything in the right sequence, at a pace that works for your schedule and budget.
Every gummy smile is unique, which means every treatment plan should be too. At your consultation, Dr. Gibbs will:
There’s no pressure and no obligation — just a thorough, expert conversation about what’s possible for your smile.
We serve patients from throughout the western suburbs of Chicago, including Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Lombard, Naperville, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Carol Stream, and Warrenville. We’re conveniently located at 26 North Park Boulevard in Glen Ellyn, just minutes from DuPage County’s major routes.
Call (630) 858-8800 to request an appointment.
Gum lift pricing varies based on the extent of treatment, which procedure(s) are used, and how many teeth are involved. As a general reference:
Most gum lift procedures are considered cosmetic and are not covered by dental insurance. However, if crown lengthening is performed for restorative reasons (to allow a crown to be properly placed), insurance may cover a portion. Our team will help you navigate your benefits and explore financing options — we want treatment to be as accessible as possible.
For a full overview of our cosmetic dentistry pricing, visit our Cosmetic Dentistry Cost page.
Most patients are pleasantly surprised. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so you feel no pain during treatment. Afterward, mild tenderness for 2–5 days is normal and easily managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. Our laser approach significantly reduces discomfort compared to traditional surgical gum lifts.
For most patients, the procedure takes between 1 and 2 hours. You’ll see results immediately—though full healing and final gumline definition settle in over 2–4 weeks.
Yes, for laser gum recontouring and crown lengthening. Once tissue is removed, it does not regenerate in the treated area. Botox treatments for hyperactive lip muscles are not permanent and require re-treatment every 3–6 months.
Gum lifts are typically classified as cosmetic procedures and are not covered by dental insurance. Exceptions exist when crown lengthening is deemed medically necessary (e.g., to restore a broken tooth). Our team will review your benefits and provide a clear explanation of costs before treatment begins.
Most patients return to normal activities the same day or the next day. We recommend avoiding strenuous exercise for 48 hours and sticking to soft foods for about a week..
Absolutely. Orthodontic treatment can sometimes cause gum tissue to enlarge around the teeth. A laser gum lift after completing orthodontic treatment is a common and effective pairing.
Yes, Botox injections are a non-surgical option for patients whose gummy smile is caused by a hyperactive upper lip. Results last 3–6 months. For other causes (excess gum tissue, altered passive eruption), laser treatment is minimally invasive and provides permanent results.
The best way to find out is through a consultation. If your smile shows more gum than you’d like — whether it’s been that way your whole life or developed more recently — there’s a strong chance we can help. Call us at (630) 858-8800 to schedule.
You’ve thought about it long enough. A gum lift is one of the fastest and most satisfying cosmetic dentistry procedures available—same-day results, minimal recovery, and a change that stays with you for life.
At Smile Glen Ellyn, Dr. Gibbs and our team are here to answer every question and build a plan that’s right for your smile—not a template. Whether you’re in Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Lombard, Naperville, or anywhere in between, we’re your neighbor and your cosmetic dentist.
Call our Glen Ellyn dental office at (630) 858-8800 or click here to request your appointment.
We’ve filled our website with information about our doctors, our team, and our services including family dentistry we offer, location, maps and business hours. Please feel free to take a look around to learn more about what we do and how we can help keep your smile healthy and stunning for a lifetime. We want you to feel confident that when you choose us, you’re choosing to receive the best dental care available.