A recent report estimated that almost one-third of American adults are unhappy with their smile. Some reasons may include smaller teeth, crooked or chipped teeth, or teeth gaps. Another common concern is when feel that your gums show too much while you are laughing or speaking, which is called a gummy smile.
The Causes of a Gummy Smile
A gummy smile, excessive gingival display, occurs when too much gum tissue appears above your upper teeth while smiling. The perception of a gummy smile is certified when more than 3 millimeters of gum tissue is exposed. We want a balanced ratio of teeth to gums in a smile. There are several factors causing a gummy smile. These might include difficulty with jaw growth, irregular tooth eruptions, an incorrect bite, a hyperactive upper lip, and muscular problems, among others. Your dentist will need to determine the cause before you pursue a gummy smile treatment.
How to Fix a Gummy Smile
Several gummy smile treatment options are available, but your dentist will identify the best feasible way. There are two approaches to resolving the condition: surgical and non-surgical.
Here are some non-surgical alternatives:
- Orthodontic treatment – A gummy smile from an orthodontic condition, such as a poor bite, or a jaw problem, can be fixed with orthodontic treatments. In addition to correcting a gummy smile, orthodontic treatments often address more significant concerns.
- Veneers and crowns– Your teeth may be too small, making your smile appear gummy. Some probable causes of small teeth include genetics or wear and tear. Veneers and crowns are cosmetic treatments that allow you to customize your smile by balancing the proportion of teeth to gums.
- Root planing and scaling– Root planing and scaling is a procedure used to remove plaque from tooth roots. It might also be advantageous in reducing a gummy smile. During this treatment, the gums can reconnect altering your gum line.
- Botox injection – Botox injected into the upper lip will relax the muscles, preventing excessive movement. Your upper lip will not rise while you smile, and your gums will no longer be exposed. Usually, the effects will last between three and six months. After that, you will need to get Botox treatment again.
- Hyaluronic acid injection– Another new gummy smile fix option is hyaluronic acid injection. A small quantity of hyaluronic acid is injected into the paranasal area of your face. The injection limits the movement of the area’s side muscles, reducing the elevation of your upper lip.
Here are some surgical approaches:
- Gum Lift or Gingivectomy Process– If you have a gummy smile due to overgrown gums, the gum lift treatment is the best gummy smile fix. Gingivectomy is removing extra gum tissue and reshaping the gum line. This procedure enables the dentist to sculpt the gums to achieve the desired smile.
- Crown-lengthening surgery– Dentists usually perform crown-lengthening surgery when removing a significant amount of gum tissue. This is when your teeth seem smaller than usual. Your dentist can extend your crowns surgically by eliminating gum tissue or bone and sculpting the remaining tissues.
- Lip Lowering or Lip repositioning– Your dentist can rearrange your lip-to-lip with surgery, making your smile appear less gummy. They will make two incisions, one beneath your lip and another at the gum line. A tiny strip of gum tissue will be removed and sutured to a lower position. Now your upper lip will not move up when you smile.
- Maxifocal surgery– You may have a gummy smile from an abnormal facial bone structure. It is one of the rarest causes of a gummy smile. The middle portion of your face grows more prolonged than the surrounding portions. This ailment causes the upper lip to protrude, revealing more gum, and maxillofacial surgery will help to resolve this condition.
If you have a gummy smile, reach out today and ask about gum contouring.