Crown Lengthening and Veneers for a Gummy Smile
Reshaping the gum line and proportions to turn short, gapped teeth into a full, even smile
By Dr. Kiyan Mehdizadeh, DMD · 9460 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 850, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 · (310) 770-3335
Last Updated: July 2026
Teeth look small and your smile looks gummy?
When teeth are short, two things tend to follow: the smile shows too much gum, and the teeth don't meet properly at the edges, leaving small gaps. Whitening and veneers alone won't fix that - the gum line has to be addressed first. If your teeth look small or your smile feels gummy, send us a photo.
- A response within one business day. Usually much sooner.
- A real cost estimate, not a range designed to get you in the door.
- No obligation. Many patients take months to decide. That is normal.
Ask about your case
Reviewed by our treatment coordination team. Call or text (310) 770-3335 if you would rather speak now.
Request received
Our treatment coordination team will review what you sent and call you
within one business day.
If you would like to hold a consultation time now, you can do that below.
Treatment Plan by Dr. Kiyan Mehdizadeh
- Professional cleaning and health baseline
- Crown lengthening (gum lift with bone recontouring)
- Temporary veneers for a test-drive
- Refinement of the gum contour
- Ten porcelain veneers
The Patient's Journey
This patient wanted a fuller smile. His upper teeth were too small to meet properly at the edges, which left small gaps between his front teeth and made his smile show more gum than tooth. He wanted it brighter and more symmetrical - but still natural and masculine, not obviously done.
A gummy smile is rarely just a gum problem. Usually the teeth are too short for the face - so the fix is proportion, not just polish.
Understanding the Challenge
Where the gum sits too low over short teeth, simply bonding or veneering over them makes them look bulky. The proportions have to be corrected first. That meant a gum lift - and specifically crown lengthening, which recontours the bone underneath the gum, not just the surface tissue. This is an important distinction: a tissue-only laser trim (gingivectomy) can relapse when the underlying bone isn't addressed, whereas crown lengthening resets the gum level in a stable, lasting way.
Initial Findings
Excessive gum display; short clinical crowns; small spaces between the front teeth from teeth that didn't meet at the edges; a request for a natural, masculine result.
The Treatment Sequence
We designed the smile around his facial features - increasing each tooth's size proportionally without adding bulk. Crown lengthening raised and evened the gum line so the teeth could be lengthened upward; with that room, we could subtly widen them to close the small gaps and still look natural. Temporary veneers let him test-drive the new shape and size before anything permanent was made, and we refined the gum contour before delivering ten porcelain veneers.
The Result
An even gum line and a smile that reads as full, bright, and symmetrical - understated from a distance, precise up close, and still unmistakably his.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crown Lengthening and Veneers
What is a gummy smile?
A smile that shows more gum tissue than usual, often because the teeth are short relative to the gums and face.
What's the difference between crown lengthening and a gingivectomy?
A gingivectomy removes gum tissue only. Crown lengthening also recontours the bone beneath it, which produces a more stable, lasting change to the gum level.
Why couldn't veneers alone fix this?
Veneering short teeth without correcting the gum line tends to look bulky and stays gummy. Setting the proportions first is what makes the veneers look natural.
Why the temporary veneers first?
They let you preview and adjust the size and shape of the new smile before the permanent veneers are made.
Does crown lengthening hurt?
It is done with local anesthesia, and most people describe the recovery as mild soreness that settles within days.
Will my smile still look masculine and natural?
Yes - the design increases proportions subtly rather than making teeth oversized or overly white.
How long does the process take?
This case took about twelve weeks, allowing for gum healing between the lengthening and the final veneers.
What does treatment like this cost?
It depends on the specific plan, which we review at consultation. We accept PPO insurance and offer financing through Proceed Finance, PatientFi, Happen Bank, CareCredit, and Cherry.
Last Updated: July 2026
Dr. Kiyan Mehdizadeh, DMD
Doctor of Dental Medicine
Most cosmetic dentists refer out for surgery. Most surgeons don't do cosmetic work. Dr. Mehdizadeh trained in both — implantology and bone grafting at Loma Linda and UCLA, fixed prosthodontics under Mauro Fradeani in Italy, periodontal microsurgery with Hürzeler and Zuhr in Munich, and IV sedation at the University of Alabama. That combination means complex cases involving surgery, grafting, implants, and restorative work are planned and executed by a single provider with full command of every phase.
Technical skill produces function. Taste is what produces beauty. The difference between dental work that looks like dental work and a result that looks entirely natural comes down to aesthetic judgment — proportion, texture, translucency, how light moves across a surface. That sensibility runs through everything here, from the way cases are designed to the office itself.
An in-house master ceramist and on-site laboratory allow restorations to be designed, fabricated, and refined with direct collaboration between doctor and technician — no outsourced lab work, no guesswork, no compromise on the final product. Dr. Mehdizadeh is one of few dentists with the refined ability to provide care across multiple specialties, resulting in cohesive and holistic outcomes.
Education & Credentials
- Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), cum laude — Boston University
- Bachelor of Science in Biology — Emory University
- Mastership in Implant Dentistry & Grafting — Loma Linda University / gIDE Institute
- Advanced Implant Therapy & Grafting — UCLA / gIDE Institute
- Implant Placement & Restoration — UCLA / Nobel Biocare
- Guided Bone Regeneration & Ridge Augmentation — gIDE Institute
- Sinus Elevation & Augmentation — gIDE Institute
- Soft Tissue Management & Grafting — gIDE Institute
- Minimally Invasive Augmentation & Autogenous Bone Management — IDEA, San Francisco
- Master Program in Fixed Prosthodontics — Fradeani Education, Italy
- Aesthetic Dentistry — UCLA School of Dentistry
- Advanced Occlusion & Bite Design — UCLA
- Periodontal Micro-Surgery — Hürzeler/Zuhr, Munich
- Micro-Endodontic Training — University of Pennsylvania
- IV Sedation — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Injectable Therapy for TMJ & Facial Pain — American Academy of Facial Esthetics
Considering similar treatment?
Send Dr. Mehdizadeh a photo and ask what’s possible for your case.