Do your gums come out too much when you smile? If so, maybe you have a gummy smile. Some people are bothered by this appearance, while others are not. In any case, there are different ways on how to fix a gummy smile. Find out more options on this page. We assure you that you and your dentist can work together and come up with the right treatment plan.
What is a Gummy Smile?
A gummy smile or excessive gingival display occurs when too much gum tissue appears over the top teeth when smiling. There should be no less than 2 millimeters of overabundant gum tissue displaying to be viewed as gummy smiles.
Mostly, gummy smiles make individuals feel self-conscious, and they wind up looking for treatment electively for cosmetic purposes. In different cases, a patient may have to fix a gummy smile for oral health reasons.
Furthermore, four types of gummy smiles include:
- Anterior: This is when excessive gum tissue appears over the front teeth in the upper jaw.
- Posterior: This happens when excessive gum tissue shows above the back teeth in the top jaw.
- Mixed: In this type, too much gum tissue appears over the upper jaw’s front teeth and back teeth.
- Asymmetric: The excess gum tissue in this type shows only one side of the mouth in the upper jaw.
Why do you have Excess Gum Tissue?
There are several causes of a gummy smile. Some individuals are born with anomalies that can result in a gummy smile. On the other hand, others may foster it because of inappropriate tooth eruption during youth or tooth wear over the long run.
Here are the common causes of a gummy smile:
Hereditary Factors
If you have smaller teeth in contrast with your gums, a gummy smile can develop. A few groups are also born with a short upper lip or overabundant gum tissue, all of which can cause gummy smiles.
Inappropriate Tooth Eruption
Tooth development issues that happen during childhood can also make a gummy smile. For instance, teeth can show up excessively short or remain incompletely covered by your gums if a tooth emits improperly.
Gum & Upper Lip Irregularities
There is a couple of hereditary gum and lip inconsistencies that can result in a gummy smile, for example:
- When the upper jaw congests, causing the gums to show up excessively long.
- Gingival hypertrophy, which is the point at which the gums are expanded or excessively long.
- A hyperactive upper lip is when your upper lip seems ordinary while resting. However, it raises higher when smiling, making the exposure of more gum tissue.
How to Fix a Gummy Smile?
There are different treatment options to fix a gummy smile. Numerous patients who put resources into gummy smile treatment improve their appearance and improve their confidence. Nevertheless, the type of treatment relies upon the reason and seriousness of your gummy smile. Typical treatment options for excessive gum tissue include:
Cosmetic and Restorative Treatments
Some cosmetic and restorative dental treatments can likewise treat a few instances of gummy smiles. These include:
Dental Crown Lengthening
Dental crown lengthening can treat the presence of too much gum tissue. The dentist uses this procedure to fix rotted or broken teeth beneath the gum line. During the treatment, a dentist or periodontist modifies your gum tissue, uncovering a greater amount of your natural tooth or teeth. Subsequently, the excess tissue on the gums over your upper teeth is less apparent. This treatment can repair one tooth, a couple of teeth, or your whole gum line.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are thin porcelain or composite resin shells that suit your front teeth to work on their appearance, size, and shape. The dentist typically performs this procedure after gum recontouring or crown lengthening surgery to enhance the presence of the exposed tooth. This clinic provides veneers to Canberra patients as an aesthetic option.
Gingivectomy and Gingivoplasty
Gingivectomy is the surgical removal of gum tissue. This treatment is applicable if your gummy smile is because of gum tissue overgrowth. On the other hand, gingivoplasty or gum contouring is a procedure that resculpts or reshapes your gumline. This is a popular treatment to fix a gummy smile.
Orthodontic Treatment
For gummy smile correction, orthodontics might help too. Braces and clear aligners are popular options available in orthodontic treatment. They can correct mild gummy smile conditions caused by a misalignment in the teeth and jaw. Although braces are standard treatment options for children, adult patients can still choose these dental devices.
Botox Injections
Botox treatment is the most short-term and least invasive approach in correcting a gummy smile. This works by briefly incapacitating the elevator muscles so that they do not radically lift your upper lip. Though Botox is a less expensive and quicker procedure than surgery, the outcomes typically last around three to four months. That is why this treatment should be repeated frequently for any long-term results. Nonetheless, suppose you are thinking about eventual lip repositioning for gummy smiles. In that case, Botox can be a great strategy to try out what you will look like before going through surgery.
Orthognathic Treatment
Jaw surgery is a more robust system that handles gummy smiles because of an excessively long upper jaw. During the strategy, the surgeon recontours the upper jaw to the appropriate shape and afterward secures it into a new position that decreases the amount of gum tissue when you smile. In contrast to different procedures, an orthognathic method includes general sedation and a hospital stay.
Takeaway
Suppose you are bothered by your gummy smile and want to explore different approaches to reduce the presence of your gum tissue. Start by making an appointment with your dentist for a consultation. Together, you and your dentist will create the perfect treatment plan for your smile.
References:
Surgical correction of excessive gingival display in class I vertical maxillary excess: Mucosal strip technique.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4121947/
What to know about crown lengthening.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/crown-lengthening
Gingivectomy Surgery: What You Need To Know.
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/gum-disease/gingivectomy-surgery-what-you-need-to-know
