Gummy smile treatments

Dentists refer to a gummy smile as “excessive gingival display.”  You’ve seen a gummy smile before, though you may not have known that it has a technical name. Basically, a gummy smile is when a person smiles and an excessive amount of gum tissue is visible above their top teeth. People who have gummy smiles often say they feel self-conscious about smiling, believing that their smile is less attractive than it could be. If you are someone who’s bothered by your gummy smile, talk to your dentist to learn more about what treatments exist. The good news is, it’s usually relatively easy to fix a gummy smile, though the type of treatment depends on what’s causing the smile to appear excessively gummy.

While there is no scientific measurement that determines that a smile is “officially” gummy, studies based on aesthetics and perception have shown that people note an excessive appearance of gum tissue when the amount of visible tissue is around 3 millimeters. The most common causes of a gummy smile are improperly erupted teeth, comparatively small teeth, a short or hyperactive upper lip, an excessive amount of gum tissue, or an overgrowth of the upper jaw bone. As you can see, the causes of a gummy smile range widely, which means that the solutions do as well. It’s also important to note that the causes are almost always genetic, so, while there are treatments to repair a gummy smile, there is no way to prevent one from developing.

If the underlying cause of a gummy smile is the mild displacement of the teeth or jaws, orthodontic treatment alone may be enough to repair the smile. Dentists may use braces or Invisalign to adjust the bite and make the appearance of the gums less dramatic. In more severe cases, your dental health practitioner may recommend a surgical procedure followed by orthodontic treatment. In these cases, an oral surgeon will sculpt and shift the upper jaw bone, securing it in place with plates and screws. Then, an orthodontist will affix braces to the teeth, encouraging the jaw to fix in place and repairing and setting the bite. The surgical procedure requires general anesthesia and a hospital stay, and treatment, including surgical recovery and orthodontic treatment, usually takes at least a year if not longer. However, patients report high levels of satisfaction with this procedure, which effectively resculpts the entire lower face and dramatically improves the appearance of the smile.

Some treatments that involve surgery are less invasive than jaw positioning surgery, requiring only small incisions in the gum tissue, or the removal of excessive gum tissue. Other types of surgery that are used to address gummy smiles include crown-lengthening surgery, in which an oral surgeon exposes more of the surface of the teeth, or lip repositioning surgery, in which an oral surgeon removes a small bit of lip tissue to allow the upper lip to relax over the upper gums. Some patients choose to have veneers or crowns placed on their teeth, making the teeth appear longer and better balancing the tooth-to-gum ratio. Some dental health professionals use lasers to contour the gums and remove excess tissue. In some cases, patients report positive results with Botox injections, though these results are temporary and must be maintained. As you can see, the treatments for a gummy smile are as vast and wide-ranged as the causes, so it’s likely that there is a solution that will work for you. The first step is to schedule an examination with your dentist, who will consult with you about your specific issue and, if necessary, refer you to an orthodontist, an oral surgeon, or another specialist. The first step toward treating your gummy smile is determining its underlying cause, and the only person who can do that is your dentist. So, if your smile bothers you, schedule an appointment to learn more about treatment today.

More information on Gummy Smiles : How to Reduce Gummy Smiles