A gum lift is a cosmetic dental procedure that removes or reshapes gum tissue to reveal more of the tooth, making teeth appear longer. Some people are born with excess gum tissue that makes teeth appear short or small. The gum lift procedure, which is also called a gingivectomy or a gingival lift, involves removing a small amount of gum tissue, usually at the top of your front teeth. A gum lift is sometimes confused with a crown lengthening, which is a different procedure that involves removing both bone & gum tissue. Gum lifts only remove gum tissue. Modern laser technology has made it so this procedure is faster, nearly painless & requires much less recovery time. The gum lift is sometimes done in combination with other cosmetic procedures (such as orthodontics) as part of a smile makeover. If you’ve been told you have a gummy smile or small teeth, a gum lift may be an option to improve the appearance of your smile.