A smile has the power to light up the whole room. But it also can cripple your self-confidence.
A gummy smile, or an excessive gingival display, is a very common condition, and in most cases, it’s a difference in aesthetics.
But in others, it can be a risk to your oral health.
What is a Gummy Smile?
There’s no official definition for a gummy smile, but it can be considered any smile where more than 2 millimeters of your gum will be exposed.
The Causes
When it comes to a gummy smile, there are a few causing factors:
- Altered passive eruption: When adult teeth come in, the gum may cover more of the teeth’s surface.
- Vertical maxillary excess: The upper jaw has excessive growth as you develop.
- Dentoalveolar extrusion: Front teeth grow further beyond the standard alignment in childhood, causing the gum to grow too far in.
- Upper Lip: Your upper lip is shorter, revealing more of the gumline.
- Hypermobile lips: Lips move drastically when talking or smiling, showing more of the gum.
- Medications: Some medications for high blood pressure, seizure prevention, and immune system suppression, can cause your gums to grow excessively – this can lead to periodontitis (gum disease) so be sure to treat it!
Treatment Options
A gummy smile might knock your self-confidence, so you may want to seek treatment. But it’s not necessary for any other reason besides personal preference.
However, if your gummy smile is caused by inflamed gums, you must consult a dentist. It may be due to poor oral hygiene, or medications as listed above.
Here are the treatment options:
Gingivectomy
Also known as gum contouring, it’s a procedure where your dentist will remove excess gum tissue. The dentist will reshape or trim your gums to show more of your teeth.
It can cause a bit of pain and bleeding and require more than one session to complete.
Lip surgery
If your lips are causing a gummy smile, a periodontist can reposition your lips to show less of the gumline.
They’ll remove some connective tissue from under your lip preventing your lips from lifting too high above your teeth. It may take about a week for recovery.
Orthodontic Treatment
If your jaw is the cause, an orthodontist may use an appliance to align your jaw or recommend an orthognathic surgery to remove a bone from your jaw to balance the length of your jaw.
Botox
You could also get botulinum toxin, also known as Botox. It’s non-invasive and limits the movement of the upper lip muscles, but it may distort your smile if too much Botox is used. The other downside is it only lasts 3 to 6 months.
A gummy smile is another attribute that makes you unique, but if you are concerned, don’t hesitate to see a dentist. Book an appointment with us and we’ll assess your gummy smile in a comfortable environment.
