There is not an established definition of a gummy smile, and it is most often based on perception. You will recognize a gummy smile when you see one. There has been research conducted to determine what people consider is excessive gingival display. The studies showed that a smile rated as attractive when two millimeters or less of gum tissue was exposed. When the gum revealed to be three millimeters or more, the smile was considered to be gummy. Gummy smiles are more common in women than men. Some experts speculate that about 14% of women and 7% of men have excessive gingival display.
Gummy Smile Treatment
The appropriate gummy smile correction will depend on what is causing it. Common treatments include:
- Veneers or crowns will make the teeth appear longer and improve the tooth-to-gum ratio if the teeth are too short from wear and tear or genetics.
- If excessive gum tissue is the issue, a periodontist can perform a gingivectomy. With this procedure, the extra gum tissue is removed and then reshaped to expose more of the teeth and improve your smile aesthetics.
- If the teeth are not fully erupted, crown-lengthening surgery might be an option. This involves removing gum tissue and bone to expose more teeth and let the gums retract back to their correct position.
- Lip repositioning surgery followed by some orthodontic treatment can be a viable alternative to jaw surgery if the excessive gingival display is from a short or hyperactive upper lip.
- Laser gum contouring procedures are becoming quite popular. This treatment removes extra gum tissue without the need for surgery when the gums extend too far down covering their teeth.
If the underlying reason for excessive gingival display is mild and is caused by the jaws or teeth, it can sometimes be fixed with orthodontics to shift the bite into the correct position and therefore make the gums appear less prominent. Often braces along with temporary anchorage devices (TADS), which are little titanium implants that are anchored into the bone above the teeth to provide a stable, immovable point from which to apply force. The procedure is quite simple, and they are only temporary.
For moderate to severe jaw protrusion, the best course of action might be jaw surgery, combined with orthodontic treatment. An oral surgeon will recontour the upper jaw so that it is now the correct size and then move it upward into an ideal position before securing. Your dentist will work closely with you and the oral surgeon for a comprehensive approach. This might be braces for a year or so, followed by surgery and then finish with another year of orthodontic treatment to lock the bite. Jaw surgery does have a lengthy recovery time and provides a higher gummy smile correction cost, it will create dramatic results.
Botox is a new contender, and it is not any cheaper than surgery. The results are temporary and last about three to four months and it will only work when the upper lip is the cause. A dentist will inject the lip with Botox, which paralyzes the muscle and prevents it from lifting too high during your smile.