Veneers for Gummy Smile Correction: Total Price Guide
Veneers for Gummy Smile Correction: Total Price Guide
A “gummy smile” — where excessive gum tissue shows when you smile — is a cosmetic concern for many patients considering veneers. While veneers primarily improve tooth shape and color, significant gum display often requires additional aesthetic steps to achieve a balanced smile. For foreign patients in Korea, it’s important to understand how gummy smile correction affects total cost and treatment planning.
Rather than thinking of veneers alone, gummy smile correction typically involves combined procedures that enhance both gum contour and veneer aesthetics for a harmonious result.
What Is a Gummy Smile and Why It Matters
A gummy smile is characterized by too much gum showing above the upper teeth when smiling. For many people, this can make teeth appear short or out of proportion — even when the teeth themselves are well-aligned and healthy.
Dentists assess gummy smiles by measuring:
- Gum-to-tooth ratio
- Lip mobility
- Tooth length and proportions
If gums dominate the smile, veneers alone may not deliver the desired visual impact. In these cases, gummy smile correction is considered to create proper balance before or alongside veneer placement.
Procedures Commonly Involved in Gummy Smile Cases
Addressing a gummy smile often requires a combination approach rather than veneers alone. Common procedures include:
- Gum contouring (gingivectomy or gingival reshaping): Removes excess gum tissue to expose more tooth surface and create symmetry.
- Crown lengthening: Refines both gum and underlying bone to establish proper tooth proportions.
- Digital Smile Design: A planning tool to visualize final results and synchronize gum and veneer outcomes.
These steps help ensure that veneers and gums are in harmony, especially in full-smile cosmetic cases involving front teeth.
How Gum Contouring Affects Veneer Pricing
In most Korean clinics, gum contouring is not automatically included in veneer pricing. While standard veneer packages generally cover tooth preparation, digital scans, design, and bonding, gum procedures are billed separately.
Typical cost factors for gum contouring include:
- Number of teeth treated
- Complexity of reshaping required
- Whether bone adjustment (crown lengthening) is included
- Technology used (laser vs traditional tools)
When performed together with veneers, some clinics offer bundled pricing or package discounts — but this varies by clinic and must be confirmed in advance.
Typical Price Range for Gummy Smile Correction + Veneers
While actual prices vary with clinic level, location, and case complexity, the general cost breakdown in Korea may look like this:
Gum Contouring / Crown Lengthening (per arch):
- Minor contouring (gum only): USD 200 – 600
- Extensive contouring with bone involvement: USD 800 – 1,500+
Veneers (per tooth):
- Composite veneers: USD 150 – 300
- Porcelain (E-max) veneers: USD 350 – 700
- Zirconia veneers: USD 500 – 900
For full gummy smile correction combined with a smile makeover (usually 8–10 teeth), total combined costs typically range from:
- USD 4,000 – 9,000+ (depending on the extent of gum and aesthetic procedures)
Exact pricing depends on how many veneers are needed, how much gum reshaping is required, and whether premium materials or advanced digital planning are used.
Why Combined Treatment Often Costs More
Gummy smile cases are usually more complex than straightforward veneer treatments because:
- Precision planning is needed to balance gum line and tooth length
- More diagnostic steps (e.g., digital smile design) are used
- Multiple procedures are performed in sequence
- Healing time can affect scheduling and visits
For foreign patients, clinics often map out these steps to minimize extra visits while ensuring optimal outcomes.
Treatment Timeline for Gummy Smile + Veneers
The sequence typically involves:
- Initial consultation and digital planning – Gum and tooth assessment
- Gum contouring/crown lengthening – Healing period (may take 1–2 weeks before veneers)
- Veneer preparation and fabrication
- Final bonding and bite adjustment
- Follow-up as needed
Because of healing requirements after gum shaping, total treatment may take 2–3 visits over 1–2 weeks, depending on complexity.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Combined Treatment?
Combined gummy smile correction and veneers may be recommended if:
- Excessive gum tissue shows at rest or during full smile
- Teeth appear short despite proper alignment
- Lip mobility contributes to gummy display
- Patient seeks both gum symmetry and cosmetic enhancement
Conversely, veneers alone may be sufficient for patients with minimal gum display or purely aesthetic shape/color concerns.
How to Confirm Costs Before Treatment
To avoid unexpected costs, it’s crucial to:
- Request a written treatment plan outlining all procedures
- Confirm what is included vs. excluded in pricing
- Ask if package discounts apply for combined procedures
- Clarify follow-up and adjustment policies
Clear communication upfront ensures budgeting aligns with treatment goals.
Final Thoughts
Veneers can dramatically improve a smile, but when a gummy smile is part of the aesthetic concern, combined treatment is often necessary.
- Gummy smile correction usually adds to total cost
- Gum contouring or crown lengthening is usually billed separately
- Combined treatment creates better aesthetic harmony
- Total costs vary based on procedure complexity and materials
For foreign patients planning veneer treatment in Korea, understanding how gummy smile correction influences pricing helps ensure smoother planning, realistic budgeting, and ultimately a more satisfying cosmetic outcome.




