When teeth are covered by an excessive amount of gum tissue, it often results in them having a shortened appearance and what is referred to as a gummy smile, a common term describing too much gum tissue being visible above the front teeth. When smiling, your Dr. May recommend a procedure called a gingivectomy to modify the gum tissue to improve the proportions of your teeth and improve the appearance of your smile. During a gingivectomy, your doctor will use a local anesthetic to numb the area and use a low frequency laser to reshape and remove the extra gum tissue. Increasing the amount of tooth material exposed and creating a better tooth-to-gum proportion using a laser can be beneficial as it eliminates the need for stitches and allows for minimal bleeding, as well as a faster healing time. Once the site has fully healed, your teeth will have an optimal aesthetic appearance.