Veneers for a Gummy Smile: How Lowenberg, Lituchy & Kantor Rebalances Your Teeth-to-Gum Ratio

Porcelain veneers can help correct a gummy smile by lengthening short or worn teeth and improving the gum-to-tooth ratio. They are often used when small teeth drive the appearance. If excess gum tissue is involved, LLK’s in-house periodontist can combine veneers with a gum lift. Following LLK’s “perfectly imperfect smile” philosophy, patients approve the shape, size, and length of temporaries before final placement.

If you feel like too much gum shows when you smile, you may have caught yourself holding back a little: lips pressed together in photos, a hand raised when you laugh, a quick glance away, a smaller smile than the one you really want to give. 

For some people, those habits build quietly over time. Even when no one else notices, they can influence how freely and confidently you choose to smile. Barbara, a longtime patient at LLK, described this exact moment of recognition: “Did I mention that I didn’t like the amount of gum that showed when I smiled?” 

For many people with gummy smiles, veneers sound promising in theory, but the fear of ending up with obviously cosmetic results prevents them from taking the next step. You’ve likely seen smiles that look too bulky, too uniform, or too bright to belong naturally to the person wearing them. Then there is the fact that veneers require permanent changes. 

Veneer placement involves removing a small amount of enamel, and that’s not a decision most people make lightly, especially if whitening, bonding, or other cosmetic treatments have already left them disappointed.

At LLK, our goal is not to give you someone else’s smile, but to help you look like yourself, only better. Ready to address your gummy smile? This guide explains what causes it, when veneers may help, how complementary procedures fit into treatment, and what natural-looking results can be achieved.

Key Takeaways

• A gummy smile occurs when excess gum tissue shows above the teeth, making them appear short and the smile unbalanced.
• Porcelain veneers address a gummy smile by lengthening the visible tooth surface and improving the teeth-to-gum ratio, often after gum tissue has been removed with a laser or raised surgically, by redefining visible crown size for better facial harmony.
• Gum contouring, performed by LLK’s in-house periodontist, can be combined with veneers when excess gum tissue is the primary cause.
• LLK’s in-house master ceramist, Jason J. Kim, handcrafts each veneer using the feldspathic layering technique, producing translucent, lifelike results that avoid the fake, “Chiclet-y” appearance.
• During a cosmetic dentistry consultation at LLK, you receive a live composite-resin preview and approve the shape, size, and color before any permanent preparation begins.

What Is a Gummy Smile and Its Causes?

“What can I do if I show a lot of gum when I smile?” It is one of the most common questions cosmetic dentists hear, and there is a name for it: a gummy smile.

Medically known as excessive gingival display, a gummy smile occurs when two to four millimeters (mm) or more of gum tissue shows above the upper teeth during a full smile, although the exact threshold varies among clinicians and studies. In a balanced smile, teeth visually dominate while gums serve as a subtle frame. Many clinicians consider one to two millimeters of visible gum tissue during a full smile to be within the esthetic range, although perceptions vary.

When that ratio shifts and the gums become the focal point, teeth can appear smaller, shorter, or more square than they actually are.

Tooth size plays an important role here. Over time, teeth wear down from grinding, acidic foods, or aging, or may never fully develop. Naturally small teeth, worn teeth, or teeth that did not fully erupt can leave proportionally more gum visible, even when the gum tissue itself is not excessive.  

Upper lip movement matters, too. Some people have a hyperactive upper lip that rises higher than average during a smile, revealing more gum regardless of tooth size. Aside from veneers, treatments range from Botox injections to lip repositioning surgery, depending on the severity of lip movement.

Other anatomical factors contribute as well:

• Altered passive eruption, in which the gingival tissue fails to migrate downward during normal tooth eruption, leaving excess gum tissue exposed and making teeth appear shorter than they actually are. This often responds well to gum contouring or crown lengthening procedures that reshape the gum line.
• Vertical maxillary excess, a skeletal condition characterized by overgrowth of the upper jaw, can alter the proportions of the smile. This structural bone issue typically requires a more involved treatment approach, which may include orthodontic treatment or oral surgery.
• Gingival hyperplasia (gum overgrowth), whether genetic or caused by certain medications, can lead to excess gum tissue.
• A short upper lip or dentoalveolar extrusion, a condition involving the teeth and the sockets that support them, can also increase gum display when smiling.

Many affected individuals do not walk around thinking, “I have a gummy smile.” They just notice how they smile a little smaller in photos, hold back a bit when they laugh, or catch themselves being more aware of their smile than they would like in social situations.

The good news is that a gummy smile is a treatable smile-aesthetics concern. Porcelain veneers directly address a gummy smile by restoring tooth length and proportion, rebalancing the gum-to-tooth ratio by enlarging the teeth themselves. Understanding what is creating the appearance is the first step toward exploring treatment options that align with your goals.

Why It Bothers People and Why It Is Worth Addressing

A gummy smile is not a medical concern in most cases, but the self-consciousness it can create can be very impactful. 

For example, research has linked excessive gingival display to lower self-esteem and psychological distress, with some people feeling embarrassed by their smile and consciously hiding or controlling it.

Many people quietly learn to hold back their smile, training themselves into a smaller, more careful expression to control how much gum shows. Over time, those small adjustments can become second nature.

For many people, pursuing treatment is not about chasing the “perfect smile” or changing who they are. They simply want to stop thinking about their smile so much. They want to laugh, talk, and be in photos without their attention always drifting back to their gums.

Wanting cosmetic treatment for a gummy smile is a legitimate response to these daily frustrations. Depending on the cause of the gummy appearance, veneers, gum contouring, orthodontic treatment, or a combination approach may help create a smile that feels more balanced and more naturally your own.

Because each cause points to a different solution, accurate diagnosis matters. LLK’s full-service team, including an on-staff periodontist, evaluates all structural factors by examining your gum health, tooth size and proportion, lip movement, and jaw structure using x-rays and clinical assessment. This evaluation allows the team to design a smile makeover specific to what is actually driving your gummy appearance.

How Do Veneers Help With a Gummy Smile?

Porcelain veneers help address a gummy smile by adding visible length to small, short, or worn teeth. As the teeth become longer and more proportionate, the gum-to-tooth ratio shifts until the gums frame the smile rather than dominate it. 

The change is visual rather than surgical. Veneers do not remove gum tissue or reposition the gumline. Instead, they extend tooth proportions so the eye naturally focuses on the teeth rather than the gums.

This approach works particularly well when the gummy appearance stems from naturally small teeth, shortened teeth, or limited visible tooth structure. When excess gum tissue contributes to the imbalance, veneers can be part of a broader smile makeover plan that may include gum contouring or a gum lift.

At LLK, each set of custom veneers is designed around your unique features, including your face shape, skin tone, the whites of your eyes, and personality. This personalized approach ensures your smile looks like your teeth, only better, not a template applied to everyone. 

We carry this commitment to natural results right down to the details. Our dental team intentionally builds in subtle irregularities and slightly asymmetrical veneer edges to achieve what we call a “perfectly imperfect smile.” 

Improving Tooth Proportion: What the 4-8-10 Rule Means for Your Smile Design

Some cosmetic dentists use a proportion guideline called the 4-8-10 rule when designing a balanced smile. It is worth noting that this “rule” is not a formal dental law and can mean different things to different dentists. Most commonly, it refers to placing four, eight, or ten veneers, depending on the extent of the smile makeover and the patient’s goals. Other dentists also use the phrase more loosely to describe a front-tooth proportion guideline in which the central incisors appear widest when viewed straight on, followed by narrower lateral incisors and canines.

Graduated tooth proportions are one of the principles of esthetic dentistry used to create balanced, visually pleasing smiles. A smile in which the visible teeth decrease subtly in apparent size from the center outward is generally perceived as more harmonious than one in which every tooth appears identical in width. When a gummy smile crowds the visible crown height, the tooth proportions appear compressed, the smile can appear flatter or less balanced, even when the teeth themselves are healthy.

LLK applies the best-proportion principles during the veneer design process, so each tooth is shaped in relation to its neighbors rather than a standard template. Because each veneer is individually designed, the restored smile preserves the subtle variation and progression found in natural teeth. Rebalancing the visible widths is part of how veneers reset the gum-to-tooth ratio and make a gummy smile read as proportionate.

When Veneers Alone Are Enough, and When a Gum Lift Helps Too

The right treatment approach depends on what is creating the gummy appearance in the first place.

A gummy smile occurs when the teeth are short or worn down, or when there is excess gum tissue that visually dominates the smile. The underlying reason determines whether veneers alone will restore balance or whether a combined approach with gum contouring is the right path.

When short or small teeth are the primary issue, porcelain veneers alone may be enough to transform a gummy smile by lengthening the visible tooth surface and improving the gum-to-tooth ratio. As teeth appear taller and more proportionate, excess gum tissue becomes less visually dominant, and the smile naturally rebalances without additional gum work.

When excess gum tissue is also present, a condition called gum overgrowth or altered passive eruption, reshaping the gum line through laser gum contouring or gingivectomy (surgical removal of gum tissue) may be combined with veneers for a fully balanced result. Using either a laser or a scalpel, the dentist carefully reshapes the gum line and removes excess tissue to reveal more of the natural tooth. 

Determining the right path depends on whether the underlying issue involves tooth size, gum tissue, or both, which is why treatment planning begins with a consultation rather than assumptions.

One advantage of treatment at LLK is the presence of an on-staff periodontist within the full-service team. Patients who benefit from both veneers and gum contouring can have their care coordinated under one roof rather than being referred to outside specialists.

Why Porcelain Veneers Look Natural and Nothing Like Chiclet Teeth

The fear of ending up with obvious, blocky “Chiclet teeth” can be one of the biggest obstacles to pursuing veneers. Modern feldspathic porcelain veneers, when crafted by a skilled ceramist, avoid that look because they interact with light the way natural enamel does. The porcelain is hand-layered so light passes through it rather than simply reflecting off the surface, creating the depth, translucency, and luminosity associated with natural teeth. 

That translucency is one of porcelain’s defining advantages. For comparison, composite veneers are not translucent and don’t match the natural look of porcelain veneers. Independent peer-reviewed evidence supports that advantage over time. 

In a seven-year retrospective study of 170 feldspathic ceramic veneers, researchers reported a 91.77% survival rate, and all remaining restorations were clinically rated excellent for color match and translucency after seven years, confirming that feldspathic ceramic veneers can maintain their lifelike appearance for a long time after placement.

This craftsmanship is supported by master ceramist Jason J. Kim, CDT, known to patients as “The Maestro,” who heads LLK’s in-house feldspathic lab. Departures Magazine famously described him as the “Picasso of his field” for his mastery of feldspathic porcelain layering and smile design.

And because the lab operates on-site, the doctors and ceramists collaborate directly on every case, and veneers can be fine-tuned during your appointment. Before your final custom veneers are placed, you preview your new smile with composite resin temporaries and approve every detail, including the shape, size, length, and color.

LLK’s approach incorporates the “perfectly imperfect smile” philosophy into every case. Rather than creating a uniform set of identical teeth, the practice deliberately adds subtle irregularities during the design process. One or two teeth might be positioned slightly askew or overlapped, or the veneer edges might have barely perceptible variations in contour. These intentional departures from perfect symmetry ensure your smile looks like the teeth you were born with, not a cosmetic template imposed across your mouth.

Because veneers involve permanent changes to the tooth surface, it is natural for patients to have questions about long-term satisfaction with the result. Our dentists address those concerns directly: if a patient is unhappy with the outcome after placement, they will adjust the veneers until the result meets the patient’s expectations.

LLK addresses those concerns directly. As Dr. Gregg Lituchy has explained, the practice can refine, remake, and replace veneers until the patient is “100 percent happy” with the result, helping ensure long-term confidence in the smile they choose.

The In-House Lab Advantage: Custom Adjustments on the Spot

Many cosmetic dental practices rely on outside laboratories for veneers. If refinements are needed after fabrication, the veneers are sent back to the lab, and the patient returns another day (or week).

At LLK, porcelain veneers come with a unique advantage: the master ceramist works down the hall, not across town. Jason J. Kim, CDT, leads the practice’s in-house veneer laboratory. This proximity allows adjustments to be made during the patient’s appointment rather than days or weeks later. If the shade is slightly off, the contour does not align with your gum line, or the proportions differ from the preview, the ceramist can often refine them on the spot.

Jason studied under master ceramist Willi Geller from 1994 to 1997, authored The Master Ceramist, and co-authored Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry: Material Selection and Technique, a textbook on advanced restorative techniques.

For patients worried about making a long-term decision, reassurance comes from knowing refinements can often be made immediately by trained and experienced specialists rather than weeks later.

Veneers vs. Other Gummy Smile Treatments: Gum Contouring, Botox, and More

While porcelain veneers improve tooth proportion, gummy smiles can develop for different reasons. Understanding the underlying cause helps determine whether veneers alone are enough or whether another treatment or combination approach may make more sense. Here are common options for addressing gummy smile concerns:

• Gum contouring and crown lengthening
  Gum contouring, often performed through a procedure called gingivectomy, removes excess gum tissue with a laser or scalpel to reshape the gumline and expose more of the natural tooth surface. The procedure typically takes one to two hours under local anesthesia.

  Crown lengthening goes a step further by removing both gum tissue and underlying bone to uncover a greater portion of the tooth. It is typically reserved for patients whose gums extend beyond the gum margin alone.

• Botox injections for a hyperactive upper lip
  When excess gum tissue results from an overactive upper lip, Botox injections offer a nonsurgical option. Botox temporarily relaxes the muscles that elevate the upper lip, limiting how high the upper lip rises during a smile and reducing gum exposure. Because the effects gradually wear off after three to six months, Botox can appeal to patients seeking a temporary or reversible approach.

• Orthodontic treatment and lip repositioning
  Orthodontic treatment, including braces and Invisalign, can reposition teeth and improve jaw relationships that contribute to a gummy smile, though results generally take longer than those of cosmetic procedures. For patients whose gummy smile stems from jaw position rather than excess gum tissue or tooth size, this option may be the most direct solution.
  Lip repositioning surgery is a permanent surgical option that limits the upward travel of the upper lip, reducing gum exposure at a full smile without altering the teeth or gums directly.

Some gummy smile treatments involve more than one type of dentistry. You may need gum contouring, crown lengthening, veneers, or a combination of treatments to get the result you are looking for. 

Porcelain veneers occupy a somewhat different role than the treatments above because they can improve several aspects of a smile at once. In addition to changing the gum-to-tooth ratio when short teeth contribute to a gummy appearance, veneers can also improve color, shape, spacing, and alignment within the same treatment plan.

For that reason, veneers are sometimes described as a form of “instant orthodontics,” creating the appearance of straighter, more proportionate teeth in roughly two visits rather than the months or years often associated with braces or Invisalign.

At LLK, the periodontist and cosmetic dentists work under the same roof, and as part of the same team, so care stays coordinated from beginning to end rather than being spread across multiple offices and specialists. This setup allows doctors to make adjustments and fine-tune details together as treatment progresses.

Is Crown Lengthening Painful or Invasive?

Crown lengthening is usually performed under local anesthesia and a sedative, so the procedure itself is painless. Mild soreness, tenderness, and swelling for several days afterward are common, while significant pain is uncommon.

Recovery typically spans one to three weeks, depending on how much gum tissue is reshaped. Most patients resume normal routines and eating habits quickly, with complete tissue healing taking up to two months.

Crown lengthening is generally less invasive than jaw surgery or orthognathic procedures for addressing a gummy smile, although the appropriate treatment depends on the underlying cause.

Jaw surgery, lip repositioning, and orthognathic treatment require far greater surgical intervention and longer recovery periods. Crown lengthening, by contrast, is an outpatient procedure performed with a scalpel under local anesthesia, with same-day discharge.

At LLK, crown lengthening and gum contouring are managed by the practice’s in-house periodontist, keeping the entire gum-reshaping process under one roof. The periodontist works directly with the cosmetic dentists to coordinate your smile makeover, whether that involves gum reshaping, custom veneers, or both.

Can Gum Contouring Be Combined With Veneers or Whitening?

Yes. Gum contouring and porcelain veneers can be combined to address a gummy smile. Gum contouring reshapes the gumline first to expose more tooth surface and improve the gum-to-tooth ratio, while veneers then add length and refine tooth shape. 

Teeth whitening is typically included in the plan as well, though the sequence of all three treatments matters for the best results.

Gum contouring must be completed and fully healed before veneers are designed and placed. The gumline needs to be stable for the ceramist to accurately determine the final veneer shape and length. If veneers are placed before gum contouring, they may not align properly with the final gumline.

Teeth whitening may also be performed before placing veneers so the final porcelain shade matches the natural color. Because porcelain does not respond to whitening treatments after placement, establishing the desired tooth color beforehand helps create a seamless result.

Rather than treating these as isolated procedures, LLK approaches them as parts of a coordinated smile makeover plan. During consultation and treatment planning, the team determines the right sequence and combination for each patient’s anatomy, goals, and timeline.

Combining Treatments for a Gummy Smile: The Smile Makeover Approach

The most comprehensive gummy smile transformations rarely come from a single procedure. One treatment may reshape the gumline while another restores the gum-to-tooth ratio and balance. The goal is not simply to change one feature in isolation, but to create a smile in which every element works together naturally.

At LLK, this multidisciplinary cosmetic dentistry approach is built into the practice’s operating model. Rather than asking patients to move between separate practices and specialists, LLK brings cosmetic dentists, a periodontist, and an endodontist together into a single team. All three partners, Dr. Lowenberg, Dr. Lituchy, and Dr. Kantor, contribute input to every smile makeover case. As the doctors describe it, 

“One of the joys of this partnership is that we work as an ego-less team, striving together to make the patient happy.” Lowenberg, Lituchy, & Kantor

That collaborative model extends beyond the partners themselves. The philosophy inside the practice is that “every patient here is ‘our’ patient collectively,” creating continuity across every stage of treatment planning and execution. 

The consultation marks the start of your journey to a more confident smile. Our team evaluates the anatomy behind the gummy appearance, your goals for your smile, and whether veneers, laser gum contouring, dental surgery, or a combined approach is likely to create the most balanced result. Once the treatment plan is finalized, smile makeovers are completed in two office visits spaced approximately one to two weeks apart.

What to Expect at LLK: From Consultation to Your Final Smile

For some people considering a gummy smile solution, such as veneers, the biggest question is not whether they will look good, but whether they are ready to make a permanent decision. LLK’s process is designed around that concern. Nothing is finalized until you have seen it, lived with it, and approved it yourself. Here’s what to expect at our practice:

1. Consultation
   Your first visit focuses on understanding your vision and your unique face. The cosmetic dentist examines your face shape, skin tone, the whites of your eyes, and personality, because a smile must look like you, not a template. You discuss the shape, length, and contour of your teeth, any spaces you want closed, the color you prefer, and how much of your smile you want to show.
2. Live Smile Demo
   Before any irreversible work happens, you see your new smile in real time. Composite resin is sculpted directly onto your teeth, showing the exact shape and size the cosmetic dentist proposes. You look in the mirror and approve, or request changes. The composite is temporary and easily removed at the end of the consultation.
3. Wax-Up and Temporaries
   Based on the composite demo you approved, the in-house lab creates a wax-up, a detailed guide showing what your final veneers will look like. Temporary veneers are fabricated from this design and placed on your teeth. You wear them for roughly two weeks, living your life with your new smile. This is your chance to approve the shape, size, length, and color in everyday situations. Only after you sign off do the final feldspathic porcelain veneers get made.
4. Final placement
   Your cosmetic dentist performs a conservative prep, removing less than one millimeter of the outer tooth surface. This is done under local anesthesia. Your final porcelain veneers are then cemented into place. Because LLK has an in-house dental lab, any fine-tuning adjustments can be made during your appointment with no waiting or surprises.

The moment patients see their new smile for the first time can be unexpectedly emotional. As Dr. Gregg Lituchy noted in Coveteur, “Sometimes I give someone the mirror, and I show them their new teeth, and they cry.”

From start to finish, you control the outcome. You see the design before prep, wear and approve temporaries, and sign off before final fabrication.

Are You a Good Candidate for Veneers to Address a Gummy Smile?

The ideal candidates for veneers tend to have short or worn teeth, healthy gums, and enough remaining tooth structure to support long-term bonding. Veneers are generally not recommended for severely weakened or extensively decayed teeth that lack sufficient surface area for reliable attachment. Active gum disease must also be treated before veneer treatment begins.

Veneer treatment involves removing less than one millimeter of tooth structure in most cases. The change is permanent, so you will not be able to return to your original teeth.

LLK’s in-house periodontist evaluates your gum health during the consultation as part of the candidacy assessment, ensuring any gum concerns are identified early and addressed before veneer treatment begins. The underlying cause of your gummy smile, whether short teeth, excess gum tissue, jaw structure, or lip movement patterns, determines which cosmetic treatment or combination is appropriate.

What Is Recovery Like After Gummy Smile Treatment With Veneers?

Recovery from gummy smile treatment depends on whether you undergo veneer placement alone or combine veneers with gum contouring. 

For veneers treatment alone, most patients return to work and normal routines within a day or two while wearing temporary veneers for roughly two weeks as their final restorations are fabricated in LLK’s in-house laboratory.

Once you get the porcelain veneers, you must be able to eat, chew, and function comfortably. You may experience temporary sensitivity for a few days after placement, which is common and typically improves quickly. 

At LLK, you usually only need one follow-up visit to ensure the procedure achieves the desired result. Your doctor may need to adjust the bite or occlusal alignment of your new teeth a week after the final veneer placement.

If your gummy smile requires both veneers and gum contouring, recovery time is slightly longer. Gum tissue typically needs one week or less for initial healing, with mild soreness after the anesthesia wears off.

At LLK, your cosmetic dentist will provide specific recovery care instructions, including gentle rinsing, soft foods for the first week, and only light activity. Once your periodontist confirms gum health is stable, your final porcelain veneers are cemented into place.

A key advantage of LLK’s in-house laboratory is the ability to make fit-and-shade adjustments during your final veneer placement appointment, eliminating the additional return visits other practices require.

After treatment, long-term care preserves your results. Brush and floss daily with gentle care around the gum line, and avoid biting hard objects directly with your veneers. If you grind your teeth, a night guard worn alongside your veneers protects your investment. LLK treats grinders with veneers and a night guard, providing complete protection rather than restricting you to a single option.

Why Choose Porcelain Veneers for a Gummy Smile

For many patients, the appeal of porcelain veneers is not one single benefit but the number of concerns they can address at once. Rather than treating tooth color, shape, spacing, alignment, and smile proportion as separate projects, veneers can improve multiple aspects of a smile within the same treatment plan.

The timeline is another reason patients often choose veneers over alternatives. While braces and clear aligners typically require months or years of treatment, veneers can create meaningful changes in shape, proportion, alignment, and gum-to-tooth balance in a matter of weeks. For that reason, veneers are often described as “instant orthodontics.”

Porcelain also offers advantages that extend well beyond placement day. Most porcelain veneers typically last 15 to 20 years, with some lasting as long as 30 years, depending on oral habits and maintenance. Unlike whitening treatments that gradually fade and require ongoing touch-ups, porcelain maintains its color over time and resists staining from daily coffee, tea, and red wine consumption.

LLK’s feldspathic porcelain lets light pass through the way natural enamel does, creating the translucency that separates a lifelike smile from opaque veneer teeth and prevents the artificial appearance that concerns many patients.

Preparation is more conservative than many patients expect. Veneers typically require removing less than 15% of the tooth structure and, in some cases, can be placed with little or no preparation.

One patient, Lizabeth Zeldenrust, summarized the experience this way: “After three visits (including the consult) I now have my beautiful permanent porcelain veneers, which look better than I ever imagined. The color, the bite, the size are perfect.”

How Long Do Porcelain Veneers Last?

Porcelain veneers realistically last 15 to 20 years with proper care, though some remain in place longer depending on individual factors, oral habits, and maintenance. 

Their natural appearance is designed to endure as well. A 2022 seven-year retrospective study of 170 feldspathic ceramic veneers published in Materials, an international peer-reviewed journal on materials science and engineering, reported a 91.77% survival rate. All cases maintained clinically excellent ratings for color match and translucency throughout the study period. The findings provide independent confirmation that feldspathic porcelain can maintain its lifelike appearance over the long term.

One LLK patient, Viv. S, wore the same veneer for 15 years before it cracked, illustrating porcelain’s durability under everyday use. When it finally broke, LLK fabricated a replacement that seamlessly matched the adjacent teeth.

Gum health and oral hygiene affect how long your veneers stay stable. Good brushing habits, regular flossing, and routine check-ups protect both the veneers and the gum tissue beneath them. Patients who grind their teeth are not automatically excluded from treatment. LLK frequently pairs veneers with a custom night guard so bruxism can be managed proactively rather than treated as a reason to avoid veneers altogether.

Why Patients Choose Lowenberg, Lituchy & Kantor for Gummy Smile Veneers

Treating a gummy smile often requires more than veneers alone. It may involve gum contouring, periodontal treatment, smile design, and ceramic artistry working together. LLK was built around that multidisciplinary approach.

The three-partner, ego-less team model forms the foundation. Drs. Marc Lowenberg, Gregg Lituchy, and Brian Kantor collaborate on every gummy smile case, making each patient “our” patient collectively rather than assigning you to a single dentist’s vision. This ensures that multiple perspectives, shaped by decades of cosmetic dentistry experience, inform your smile makeover.

Each feldspathic porcelain veneer is hand-crafted in LLK’s in-house laboratory by master ceramist Jason J. Kim, CDT, known to patients as “The Maestro.” Departures Magazine named Jason the “Picasso of his field” for his mastery of the labor-intensive feldspathic layering technique, which allows light to pass through the veneer and creates the translucent, lifelike appearance that prevents the “Chiclet” effect. Because the laboratory is on-site, refinements and adjustments can often be made during your appointment, rather than requiring additional visits and weeks of waiting.

LLK’s team includes an on-staff periodontist and endodontist at the practice’s Central Park South office. Patients who require laser gum contouring, a gum lift, or other periodontal procedures alongside veneers can have their care coordinated within a single treatment plan rather than across multiple offices.

LLK’s heritage spans more than 40 years. Drs. Lowenberg and Lituchy have been pioneering cosmetic dentistry since the 1980s, making this one of the longest-running elite cosmetic practices in New York City. Dr. Kantor joined the practice in 2002.

Throughout their career, they have treated patients who make a living in front of cameras, where even minor smile enhancements can be noticeable. As reported by Coveteur, LLK has cared for the smiles of Heidi Klum, Naomi Campbell, and Chris Rock. 

That high level of our care does not change based on who is in the chair. The doctors are explicit about what this means: celebrities account for only 1% of patients, and the other 99% receive the same attention to detail and level of craftsmanship. Whether you are a model, an actor, a teacher, or a social worker, the goal stays the same: a smile that looks natural, feels like yours, and fits comfortably into your life. 

If you are considering gummy smile veneers, a consultation at LLK will show you what a personalized plan looks like.

Real Patient Results: Gummy Smile Transformations at LLK

No two gummy smiles have the same cause, which is why treatment plans often look different from one patient to the next:

• Brittany came to LLK with a gum-tooth balance challenge that made her hesitant to smile freely. During her smile makeover, the cosmetic dentists performed a gum lift to reshape her gum line, revealing more of her tooth structure and creating the proportions she had been seeking. The result was less gum exposure and teeth that finally commanded attention in her smile.
• Barbara discovered that excessive gum display was not something she had to simply accept. “Did I mention that I didn’t like the amount of gum that showed when I smiled?” she recalled. “I was pleasantly surprised to find out that could be fixed.” Her treatment combined a gum lift with porcelain veneers, addressing both the excessive gingival display and the aging-smile concerns that had kept her from smiling confidently.
• Mary‘s gummy smile ran in the family, but she did not have to accept it. LLK’s cosmetic dentist team addressed her concern through a combination approach: laser gum contouring to reshape the gum line, paired with custom porcelain veneers that lengthened her teeth and improved her overall smile aesthetics.

Together, these cases illustrate an important principle: Successful gummy smile treatment depends on identifying the underlying cause. Some patients benefit from gum contouring alone. Others benefit from porcelain veneers, while many achieve the best result through a combination approach that improves both gum display and tooth proportions.

Visit the LLK patient stories gallery to see the full photo results for Brittany, Barbara, Mary, and other patients. Individual results vary, and a consultation with LLK’s doctors is necessary to determine whether a gum lift, porcelain veneers, or a combination approach is right for your specific case.

Frequently Asked Questions About Veneers and Gummy Smiles

• Can veneers get rid of a gummy smile?

If short or worn-down teeth are the main reason too much gum shows when you smile, porcelain veneers can make a dramatic difference by making the teeth look longer and more proportional. As the teeth take up more visual space, the gums naturally become less of the focus. When excess gum tissue is also present, a gum lift using laser contouring or gingivectomy can be performed alongside veneers to rebalance tooth proportions and reshape the gum line. At LLK, the practice’s in-house periodontist works alongside the cosmetic team to coordinate both parts of the treatment when needed, so patients with more involved cases can have everything planned and performed in one place.

• What is the 4-8-10 rule for veneers?

Some cosmetic dentists use the term “4-8-10 rule” to describe a front-tooth proportion guideline in which the central incisors appear widest when viewed straight on, followed by narrower lateral incisors and canines. This gradual taper helps create the sense of balance and variation associated with a natural-looking smile. However, the term is not a formal dental term and can mean different things to different practitioners, often referring to the placement of four, eight, or ten veneers. LLK’s custom porcelain veneers are sized to your unique anatomy using principles of proportion rather than a standard template. Our dentists follow a “perfectly imperfect smile” approach, ensuring a balanced, natural smile that’s unmistakably yours rather than a uniform Chiclet look.

• Does Austin Butler have veneers?

Austin Butler has not publicly confirmed or denied having veneers, though his noticeably improved smile has drawn widespread media attention. The speculation about his specific dental work remains unverified. This uncertainty may demonstrate that the most skillfully executed veneers are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth. When a cosmetic dentist and master ceramist collaborate on custom work, results look believable enough that even high-profile smile transformations spark debate rather than definitive conclusions. LLK’s in-house laboratory, under master ceramist Jason J. Kim’s direction, builds veneers with the “perfectly imperfect smile” approach, deliberately incorporating subtle irregularities to keep the work undetectable.

• When do veneers need replacing?

Porcelain veneers typically last 15 to 20 years. Signs a veneer may need replacing include chipping or cracking, loosening of the bond between the veneer and tooth, and gum recession that exposes the veneer margin. A noticeable color change is uncommon with porcelain veneers, as the material is more stain-resistant than composite resin and generally more stain-resistant than natural enamel. Because LLK maintains an in-house laboratory with master ceramist Jason J. Kim, individual veneers can be repaired or replaced without redoing your full set, with color matching completed during the same visit.

• Can teeth whitening make my teeth sensitive?

In-office hydrogen peroxide-based whitening commonly causes temporary sensitivity during or shortly after treatment. The high-concentration peroxide increases tooth porosity, allowing deeper penetration toward the nerve. Whitening results also fade within months, creating a cycle of repeated bleaching sessions. For patients tired of chasing white teeth, porcelain veneers offer a long-lasting alternative that resists yellowing or staining. Both whitening and veneers require healthy gums.

• What are Stage 4 receding gums, and does it affect veneer candidacy?

Stage 4 periodontitis involves advanced bone loss, often accompanied by tooth loss, bite changes, or tooth mobility that can require complex rehabilitation. Because active periodontal disease can compromise the long-term stability of the teeth supporting veneers, patients with Stage 4 disease are typically treated and stabilized before veneer treatment begins. LLK’s in-house periodontist evaluates gum health as part of every candidacy assessment and coordinates any necessary gum care before the veneer process begins. Treating active gum disease before veneer placement provides a healthier foundation for long-term restoration success.

You Don’t Have to Hold Back Your Smile

Have you gotten used to smiling smaller? Many people with gummy smiles do. They smile with their lips together in photos, become a little more aware of their smile when they laugh, or avoid showing quite as many teeth as they otherwise would. After a while, they just stop expecting any change.

The good news is that you don’t have to live with a gummy smile. We at LLK can help. Your journey to a more confident smile begins with seeing what is actually possible for your smile. During the consultation, the cosmetic dentist places temporary composite directly on the teeth so you can see, in real time, how changes to shape, length, and proportion might look before any irreversible treatment takes place.

If excess gum tissue is present, gum contouring or crown lengthening can be coordinated alongside porcelain veneers as part of the same treatment plan. If shorter or worn teeth are the main issue, veneers alone may be enough.

Many smile makeovers are completed in just two visits spaced about one to two weeks apart, although the exact timeline depends on your treatment plan. In many cases, an individual veneer can also be repaired or replaced without remaking the entire set. Before making a decision, you can browse LLK’s before-and-after gallery to see real patient transformations.

Ready to see what your smile could look like? Make an appointment or contact LLK today at (212) 586-2890 or fill out our contact form to get started. Keep in mind that individual results vary, and only a consultation can determine which treatment or combination of treatments is right for you.