A beautiful smile is about more than the shape and colour of the teeth — it is also about the gums that frame them. If teeth are a painting, the gums are the frame. In dentistry, the aesthetics of the teeth is called "white esthetics" and the aesthetics of the gums "pink esthetics". When the two are in harmony, the result is a balanced, natural smile.
Gum aesthetics (pink esthetics) is the general name for treatments concerned with the level, colour, thickness and symmetry of the gums. It is an important part of smile design.
When does gum aesthetics come into play?
- Gums showing too much when smiling (a "gummy smile")
- Gums sitting at uneven/asymmetric levels between teeth
- Exposed tooth necks due to gum recession
- Darkening (pigmentation) of the gum colour
- The need to refine the gum line before veneers or laminates
Which methods are used in pink esthetics?
Where the gum level is high, gum contouring (gingivoplasty) can balance the visible portion of the teeth. In areas of gum recession, surgical methods to restore the gum level are considered. For darkening, procedures to lighten the gum colour may be applied. Which method is suitable is determined by evaluating gum health and the person's smile line.
White and pink esthetics are planned together
Especially in front-region aesthetic treatments (porcelain laminate, zirconia, smile design), refining the gum line directly affects how natural the result looks. That is why teeth and gums are treated as a whole during aesthetic planning; healthy gum tissue is also necessary for the aesthetic result to last.
Assessing gum health before gum aesthetics is essential; an aesthetic procedure on inflamed gums will not give the right result. Consult your dentist for a personalised plan.
Content on this site is for informational purposes only and does not replace diagnosis or consultation.
Periodontology Specialist
Our content is prepared with the expertise of our specialist team. Book an appointment for a personal assessment.
