A gummy smile, also known as excessive gingival display, occurs when an individual shows a large portion of their gums when they smile. While it is often considered a cosmetic concern, there are several underlying causes and effective treatments available
Causes of a Gummy Smile
Hyperactive Upper Lip:
Overactivity of the muscles controlling the upper lip can cause it to lift excessively, revealing more gum tissue.
Excess Gingival Tissue:
Some individuals naturally have more gum tissue, leading to a gummy appearance.
Teeth Development Issues:
If teeth do not fully erupt or appear smaller than usual, more gum tissue may be visible when smiling.
Jawbone Development:
Abnormal jaw growth can also lead to a gummy smile, particularly if the upper jaw protrudes more than usual.
Treatment options
Gingivectomy
If too much of your gums cover the surface of your teeth, your dentist might recommend a procedure known as a gingivectomy. This is also known as gum contouring and involves the removal of extra gum tissue.
What does gingivectomy involve?
When you have a gingivectomy, your dental surgeon will give you a local anesthetic to keep you from feeling pain during the procedure.
We at Jasbir Dental Specialist Melaka use laser technology to trim or reshape your gums to reveal more of your teeth with precision and minimal discomfort.
After the surgery, your gums are likely to feel sore for about a week.
You might have to return for more than one session.
The good news is that the results are likely to be long-lasting or even permanent.
Lip repositioning surgery
If your lips are the cause of your gummy smile, your doctor may suggest lip repositioning surgery. The procedure changes the position of your lips relative to your teeth.
It’s done by removing a section of connective tissue from the underside of your upper lip. This will prevent the elevator muscles located in the area of your lip and nose from lifting your upper lip too high above your teeth.
What does lip repositioning surgery involve?
The surgery is performed under local anesthesia so you won’t feel pain.
Once your mouth is numb, the periodontist will make two incisions on the underside of your upper lip and remove a section of connective tissue from the area.
After the connective tissue is removed, the periodontist will stitch up the incisions.
The procedure lasts from 45 minutes to 1 hour.
After the procedure, your periodontist may prescribe antibiotics and pain medication for you.
Recovery typically takes about a week.
According to a 2019 scientific review, patients who had this procedure were still happy with the results 2 years after the surgery.
In many cases, the results are permanent, but a relapse could occur.
Orthognathic surgery
If your jaw is part of the reason you have excessive gingival display, your dentist or oral surgeon may recommend orthognathic surgery. This procedure will balance the length of your upper and lower jaws.
A lot of planning goes into this treatment approach.
You may need to meet with both an orthodontist and a maxillofacial surgeon. You will probably have one or more scans taken of your mouth to determine where your jaw has grown too far.
Sometimes, before getting jaw surgery, you’ll need to wear braces or other orthodontic devices to make sure your teeth and the arches in your mouth are aligned well.
What does orthognathic surgery involve?
With this surgery you’ll be under general anesthesia, which means you won’t be awake for the procedure.
The surgeon will remove a section of bone from your upper jaw to balance the length of your upper and lower jaws.
The jawbone will be reattached with tiny plates and screws. If your lower jaw sits too far back, it may have to be adjusted too.
After the surgery, you’ll likely remain in the hospital for 2 to 4 days so your oral surgeon can monitor the results.
You may have to wear elastics to hold your jaw in position while it heals.
Healing typically takes 6 to 12 weeks.
Temporary Anchorage Devices
If you don’t want to have surgery, talk to your dentist about whether a temporary anchorage device (TAD) is right for you. This device can help pull your teeth into a position that may reduce a gummy smile. This is done in conjunction with braces or other orthodontic devices to make sure your teeth and the arches in your mouth are aligned well.
What to know about TADs?
TADs are tiny screws implanted into the bone in your mouth.
They’re usually put into place in the office of an oral or maxillofacial surgeon.
Local anesthetic is used to numb the area where the screws are implanted
Whether they’re the right solution for you will depend on what’s causing your gummy smile.
Botox
If moving your lips too far up over your gumline when you smile causes your gummy smile, you may have success with injections of botulinum toxin, also known as Botox.
In a 2016 study Trusted Source, 23 women with gummy smiles received a Botox injection to paralyze the elevator muscles in their lips. After 2 weeks, 99.6 percent of the women saw a difference in their smiles.
Botox is less expensive and less intrusive than surgery.
The drawbacks? You’ll have to repeat the injections every 3 to 4 months. There’s also the risk that your doctor will inject too much Botox, which will cause your smile to look distorted.
Hyaluronic acid (Fillers)
Another way to temporarily correct a gummy smile caused by hypermobile lips involves injections of hyaluronic acid fillers. The fillers restrict the movement of muscle fibers in your lip for up to 8 months.
It’s important to note that injecting fillers comes with risks. Though complications are rare, it’s possible that:
Your blood supply could be damaged, leading to tissue loss, blindness, or stroke.
Your body’s immune system could react to the hyaluronic acid and form a nodule or granuloma.
Compared with surgical options, hyaluronic acid fillers are inexpensive.
Benefits of Treatment
Correcting a gummy smile not only enhances the aesthetics of your smile but can also boost self-confidence and improve overall facial harmony. At Jasbir Dental Specialist Melaka we prioritize your smile, just like our motto “Your Smile Our Pride.”
While generally a cosmetic concern, in some cases, a gummy smile can indicate underlying issues such as improper jaw development or teeth misalignment.
Non-surgical options like Botox injections or orthodontic treatments can often effectively reduce gum exposure but will depend on what’s causing your gummy smile.
Recovery time varies, but most patients return to normal activities within a few days, with full healing taking a few weeks. Surgical treatment requires a long period of recovery.
Treatments like laser contouring and surgery offer permanent results, while options like Botox will need maintenance every few months.
For those in Melaka considering gummy smile treatment, we at Jasbir Dental Specialist offer personalized consultations to determine the best approach for achieving a confident, beautiful smile.
Contact Jasbir Dental Specialist Melaka today to learn more about how you can transform your smile.
