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GUMMY SMILE

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Cosmetic Dentistry

Gummy Smile

What is that

  • A gummy smile, known as excessive gingival display, is when you smile and too much gum tissue shows above the top teeth. 

WHAT CAUSES A GUMMY SMILE?

  • There are a number of causes of a gummy smile, however, the most common ones are:
  • Teeth that appear short because they erupted improperly and remain partially covered by gum tissue
  • Teeth that are small in comparison to the gums due to genetics or wear
  • An upper lip that is too short
  • A hyperactive upper lip that is normal in length when the face is resting but lifts too high when smiling exposing a lot of gum tissue
  • Gums that are long or enlarged, known as gingival hypertrophy
  • An overgrowth of the upper jaw, called vertical maxillary excess, that makes gums bulge out

GUMMY SMILE TREATMENT

As we mentioned previously, the appropriate gummy smile correction will depend on what’s causing it. Options include:

  • If the underlying reason for excessive gingival display is mild and due to the jaws or teeth, it can sometimes be fixed with orthodontics alone to shift the bite into the correct position and make the gums appear less prominent.
  • For moderate to severe jaw protrusion, the best course of action is orthognathic surgery, or jaw surgery, combined with orthodontic treatment. An oral surgeon will recontour the upper jaw so that the correct size and then move it upward into its ideal position before securing it with plates and screws. This is done under general anesthesia and requires a hospital stay.
  • Veneers or crowns can make the teeth appear longer and improve the tooth-to-gum ratio if the teeth are too short thanks to wear or genetics.
  • If too much gum tissue is the issue, a periodontist can perform a gingivectomy. In this procedure, they remove the extra gum tissue and reshape it to expose more of the teeth and improve your smile aesthetics.
  • If the teeth fully erupted, crown-lengthening surgery, which involves removing gum tissue and/or bone to expose more tooth and let the gums retract back to their correct position is a viable option.
  • Lip repositioning surgery followed by orthodontic treatment can be a good alternative to jaw surgery if the excessive gingival display is the result of a short or hyperactive upper lip.
  • Laser gum contouring procedures can remove extra gum tissue without the need to go under the knife for those with gums that extend too far down covering their teeth.
  • Botox is a newer contender and a much cheaper gummy smile treatment option than surgery. However, the results are temporary and last about three to four months and it will only work when the upper lip is the culprit. A doctor injects the lip with Botox, which paralyzes the muscle and prevents it from lifting too high when you smile.

Royal Dental Clinics is one of the leading clinics in Alexandria . Since its establishment, Royal Dental Clinics has adopted the concept of a complete medical team that covers all branches of therapeutic and cosmetic dentistry.

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