GUMMY SMILE TREATMENTS
Having a gummy smile does not mean your smile is doomed for the rest of your life! If you have excessive gum tissue showing when you smile, there are actually quite a few treatments available to correct it, some more affordable and less invasive than others. In this section, we will discuss the treatment options for a gummy smile.
Gummy Smile Treatment Options
While a gummy smile is often genetic, there can be other reasons for excessive gingival display. Short teeth, periodontal disease, medications, or excessive wear on the teeth can all lead to a gummy smile. Some treatment options include the following:
- Orthodontics: Sometimes, the gingival display is mild and caused by the jaw or teeth. Orthodontics can be used to correct the bite and thereby make the gums appear less prominent. Technology has made headgear a thing of the past and now, temporary anchorage devices can be placed in the jaw bone inside the mouth to provide a stable point from which to apply force and allow the teeth to shift.
- Jaw surgery: For severe cases of upper jaw protrusion, jaw surgery combined with orthodontic treatment is usually the best option. An oral surgeon will reshape the upper jaw to an appropriate size and shift it upward to an ideal position before securing it in place with plates and screws. This is the most invasive option and requires a hospital visit and extensive healing time.
- Lip repositioning: A short or hyperactive upper lip can be remedied with lip repositioning surgery, possibly accompanied by orthodontic treatment. A hyperactive upper lip means that the lip lifts too much when smiling to reveal excessive gum tissue.
- Botox: Botox is a less expensive but temporary treatment for a gummy smile. Botox is injected into the lip and paralyzes the muscle to prevent it from lifting too high when you smile. Botox is temporary and will need to be redone every 3 to 4 months and only works if the cause of your gummy smile is a hyperactive upper lip.
- Veneers: For teeth that are too short due to genetics or that have been worn down from grinding and normal wear and tear, veneers can give you back some of the length of your teeth and restore a good gum-to-tooth ratio.
- Gingivectomy and gum contouring: A gingivectomy allows your periodontist to remove excess gum tissue and reshape your gum line. This can be done on teeth that never fully erupted as well and is then called crown lengthening. Gum contouring is used to straighten an uneven gum line and is done using the same soft tissue laser as a gingivectomy and crown lengthening. This process will expose more tooth structure and give you a beautiful smile!
Do not suffer unnecessarily with a gummy smile. There are just too many options to correct it and sometimes, dental insurance will cover some of the costs. At the very least, discuss your options with your dentist to determine if correcting a gummy smile could be medically necessary for you.
More on Gummy Smiles : Reducing a Gummy Smile