Showing too much gums when you smile ?
A gummy smile can sometimes be embarrassing, making your teeth look too short and stumpy. Many people try to hide their gums when they smile and this may affect peoples social confidence. The appearance of a smile is not only made up of teeth, but is complimented by the gums and the lips.
Common causes of a gummy smile:
-hyperactive upper lip muscles
-excessive gums
-incorrect proportion of teeth size and gum shape.
Each individual case is different and you may have a combination of all the above.
Treatment options:
Treatment options can vary depending on the cause of the gummy smile.
- Muscle relaxants injectables are a simple way to address a gummy smile. Small injections are administered into the muscles either side of the nose. This reduces the pull on the top lip and thus reduce the amount of gum exposed by smiling. Muscle relaxant injectables typically lasts up to 6 months.
- Periodontal surgery, known as a “gum lift” , can be performed in the dental chair in just one appointment by a dentist. The gum lift technique reduces the height of the gums and even out any asymmetrical gum lines, exposing more tooth structure for a beautiful, full smile.
- Orthodontic intrusion of the upper teeth. Placing braces on your teeth and using mini implants or reverse curve orthodontic wire we can intrude your upper teeth and hide the gummy smile. This is more commonly done when the patient is planning orthodontic work to straighten their teeth.
If you have a gummy smile and would like to learn more about how our treatments could help you, feel free to contact us for a complementary consultation with our cosmetic dentists.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before any procedure we will inform you of those risks by way of written informed consent documentation.
