GUMMY SMILE
Nobody wants to feel self-conscious when they smile. Still, there are certain cosmetic issues that can cause someone to be more hesitant about smiling. This can, in turn, affect their overall mood and confidence.
If you find that you aren’t smiling as often because you have a “gummy smile,” you may want to consider different treatment options to re-contour your gums.
THE CAUSES OF GUMMY SMILE
There are a few different causes that can lead to a gummy smile. The treatment option that is best for your needs will depend on what is causing your gummy smile in the first place. A few of the different causes for a gummy smile include:
- Altered Active Eruption
- Short Upper Lip
- VME (Vertical Maxillary Excess)
- Anterior Over-Eruption
- Altered Passive Eruption
Once your dentist takes a look at your gums, they can better determine the reason for your gummy smile—which will in turn help them to determine the best treatment option for your specific needs.
WHY YOU'LL WANT TO TREAT YOUR GUMMY SMILE
While many people don’t necessarily understand what the optimal smile line should be, they can tell when their gums are a little too long. A patient may also notice that their gumline is inconsistent, and that some teeth are gummier than others. Either way, having an inconsistent or gummy gumline can cause a patient to feel insecure.
Smiling can have a major effect on your overall mood. By having your gums properly aligned, you can smile without feeling self-conscious. This may, in turn, make you happier.
TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR GUMMY SMILE
The treatment option that your dentist will decide on will depend on the specific issue that is being treated. Below are a few common treatment options for gummy smiles and misaligned gumlines:
SMILE DESIGN
Gum contouring is often just one aspect of an overall smile design. If a patient has a few different aspects of their smile that they want to change, they can visit a cosmetic dentist to redesign the overall look of their smile, including making changes to both the teeth and gums. A few different procedures that a patient may consider for their overall smile design may include:
- Gum Contouring
- Teeth Whitening
- Lip Repositioning
- Dental Implants
- Orthodontics
- Dental Bonding
- Dental Veneers
- Dental Crowns
Essentially, a smile design plan may involve any cosmetic procedure that will help to improve the overall look of a patient’s teeth and gums—allowing them to smile bright.
COSMETIC DENTISTRY
In order to have different elements of a smile design performed (including the treatment of a gummy smile), you’ll likely need to seek out a cosmetic dentist. While some general dentists are able to perform cosmetic services, others cannot or will not perform cosmetic procedures. A cosmetic dentist, on the other hand, is a dentist who specializes in cosmetic procedures.
A cosmetic dentist can take a look at your teeth, gums, and jawbone to determine what treatments are best to repair any cosmetic issues that you may be having. Some of these issues may also be causing oral health issues, which makes them necessary procedures. If this is the case, your dental insurance may actually cover a portion of the procedure.
For treatment of a gummy smile, make sure to seek out a qualified cosmetic dentist.
Testimonials
What our patients
have to say
Everyone was very friendly and courteous from the receptionist, Sara and Dr Young
I have been seeing Dr. Leal since I was a child and have never had a negative experience here. Ki ...
Kind, compassionate, prompt care. Would recommend to anyone.