A gummy smile is the one that shows more of your gum line than you would appreciate. It occurs when the upper gums are too prominent and droop over the teeth. It is also known as an excessive gingival display. In an ideal smile, the upper lip sits usually about 0 to 2 mm above the teeth. Gummy smile is a common unaesthetic condition, which can be caused by a single or a combination of factors.
However, the most common causes of a Gummy Smile include the following:
- Short/Small teeth: Improperly erupted teeth remain partially covered by gum tissue and appear short.
- Genetics/Wear: In some cases, teeth are small in comparison to gums due to genetics or wear resulting in a gummy smile.
- Short Upper Lip: The dimension of the upper lip could be shorter than the expected normal leading to a gummy smile.
- Vertical Maxillary Excess: An overgrowth of the upper jaw makes gums bulge out.
- Gingival Hypertrophy: Long or enlarged gums could add to the cause.
- Hyperactive Upper Lip: It appears normal in length when the face is resting but lifts too high when smiling, exposing a lot of gum tissue .
Hence, we can say that the key components that dictate your smile aesthetics are the teeth, lips, jaws and gums. An attractive smile is less about the exact dimensions of the teeth and gums while it’s more about how the smile synchronizes with the entire face.
There are many ways to correct a gummy smile. But the right choice of treatment depends on the primary cause of the problem. The various treatment options include the following :
1. Orthodontic treatment
If your gummy smile is mild and is caused by orthodontic issues such as a bad bite or minor jaw problems, then orthodontic appliances such as Dental Braces and Aligners can help bring back the desired changes. Orthodontic treatment can correct the jaw problems and bite issues which eventually makes your gums appear smaller when smiling.
2. Veneers or Dental Crowns
Veneers or Dental Crowns are simple dental restorations that can be used to make your teeth appear longer. This will help balance out your teeth and gums, making your smile less gummy.
3. Crown-Lengthening Surgery
If your teeth haven’t fully erupted (making them look short), a surgery to lengthen the crown can be done. Gum tissue and/or bone is removed to expose more of the tooth, allowing the gums to withdraw into its correct position.
4. Laser Gum Contouring
Using special dental lasers, our dentists at Shilp Dental Care can help remove the extra gum tissue from certain areas to eliminate the gummy smile.
5. Gingivectomy
Some patients experience an excess of gum tissue which can be the cause of their gummy smile. If this is the case, a gingivectomy can be performed by our expert team of dentists at Shilp Dental Care during which the excess gum tissue is removed, and the remaining tissue is reshaped to expose more of your teeth.
6. Gummy Smile Jaw Surgery (also known as Orthognathic Surgery)
The final option for correcting a gummy smile is an orthognathic surgery. This procedure is the most complex of all we have talked about, but you will be comforted to know that it is also the least commonly required.
At Shilp Dental Care, Ahmedabad, we are well-versed with a team of dental health professionals to provide the required services of a periodontist, cosmetic dentist, an oral surgeon, prosthodontist or an orthodontist, all under one roof. We ensure that the whole process runs smoothly and your gummy smile can be fixed in time.
Call today for a consultation and reinvent your smile with Shilp Dental Care.