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GUMMY SMILE IN WINSTON-SALEM
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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 affect 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:
GUM CONTOURING
Gum contouring is a very popular treatment option for gummy smiles and misaligned gums. This process involves the use of a soft tissue laser to trim away excess gum tissue. Gum contouring often costs around $600 to $2,000 per tooth. The cost will vary depending on the severity of the
contouring.
ORTHODONTICS
Another option for the treatment of a gummy smile is orthodontics (braces). By correcting the position of the teeth, the gums can be properly positioned in turn.
CONTACT LEAL, SPANGLER & JOHNSON
Drs. Leal, Spangler, and Johnson in Winston-Salem, NC provide the highest quality dental care with a personal touch, thoughtfully considering each patient and their needs. We offer comprehensive family and esthetic dentistry and love helping people achieve a healthy smile.
We are accepting new patients.
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 that 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.
FINDING A COSMETIC DENTIST FOR YOUR GUMMY SMILE
There are a few different ways to find a cosmetic dentist that is able to perform gum contouring or other gumline reshaping procedures. Below are a few options that you can consider for finding the perfect cosmetic dentist for your needs:
Speak with Your General Dentist
You may not be aware of all of the services that your general dentist provides, and by speaking with your general dentist or their secretary, you may find that your general dentist can help you with your gum reshaping. If they are unable to help, they may know a qualified dentist in the area that can help with your reshaping procedure.
Speak with Friends and Family
If you have a friend or family member that has recently undergone any cosmetic dentistry procedures, consider asking them about the dentist that performed the procedure. You may get an excellent reference for a dentist that you know going in that you can trust.
Search Online
One of the easiest ways to find a cosmetic dentist in your area is with an online search. From there, you can visit the websites of cosmetic dentists in your area, check their hours and location and read any reviews that may be available.
