A gummy smile, known as excessive gingival display in doctor speak, is when you smile and too much gum tissue shows above the top teeth.
Causes of a gummy smile
The size and shape of teeth. A short or overactive upper lip muscle that lifts the lip too high when smiling. Abnormal or partial dental eruption – this leaves teeth covered by gum tissue, making them appear shorter than they really are. Gingival hypertrophy – gums that are overly long or ...
Conclusion. In most cases, a gummy smile is not a cause for concern. However, it could be, which is why individuals should consult with a dentist right away if their smiles appear gummier than usual. If it is purely aesthetics that bother a person, a cosmetic dentist can provide appropriate treatment.
You may be diagnosed with a gummy smile if you have more than a couple of millimeters of exposed gingiva—the gum tissue between your teeth and upper lip. This condition is also called “gingival excess” or “exacerbated gingival display.”
To be considered conventionally attractive, your smile should have the same midline (vertical line that splits the face perfectly in half) as your face. If your smile's midline isn't directly between your two central front teeth, it might look unattractive.
Gummy smiles are treated with several units, you might need 2 units on each side but the doctor may need to give more or less. It needs to be repeated and may only last two or three months, sometimes longer.
One or two units of Botox are needed to fix a gummy smile. Botox is injected in the area between your upper lip and nose to temporarily freeze the muscles that contract or elevate when you smile which allows you to smile without showing your gums.
How can braces/Invisalign help? Braces and Invisalign can help improve your smile, not only through straightening, but can also improve your gummy smile. If you have a gummy smile due to the position of your teeth or jaw, braces or Invisalign can help.
Correcting a “gummy” smile with laser gum surgery
Both procedures gently cut away at gum tissue and bleeding is common but nothing to worry about. Since a local anesthetic is used, the procedure is usually painless and can be completed in one visit.
Gummy smile surgery will cost patients anywhere from $300 to as much as $8,000 for the entire procedure. However, it should be noted that cases that require multiple visits and procedures could cost considerably more.
You'll be given local anesthesia before the procedure starts. This will numb your gums so you won't feel pain while the doctor is working on your mouth. But you can expect some tenderness and numbness afterward. The amount of discomfort depends on how much of your gums had to be reshaped or removed.
Excess gum display
You wouldn't think of your gums as an age accelerator, but they certainly can be. A gummy smile, which can occur naturally or be a result of ageing, shows more of your gums than teeth. As a result, this can create a short, worn-down smile making you look older than you are.
Some changes are due to natural biological processes, including bone remodeling (the jawbone breaks down and is replaced with new bone cells) and the tendency of the teeth to shift towards each other. Other reasons your smile changes with age may include: Regular wear and tear. Gum recession.
An overbite can lead to excessive wear on a person's incisors. What's more, an overbite can give a person a “gummy” smile and protruding lips. Crowding is a malocclusion that occurs with teeth that do not have sufficient room to protrude from the gums.
One of the best nonsurgical treatments for these fine lines involves the use of neuromodulators, or botulinum toxins. Botulinum toxins, also known as Botox®, Xeomin® and Dysport®, can reduce the appearance of laugh lines and rejuvenate your face.
For example, if someone's gummy smile is due to their having smaller teeth, then veneers can be used to make their teeth look larger. Veneers are a very versatile and noninvasive cosmetic treatment that offers those with a gummy smile the ability to make their smile look exactly how they want it to look.
Answer: Gummy smile versus lip flip
The location to fix a gummy smile is typically near the nose to lower the lip, while a lip flip is injected directly about the pink lip to evert the lip.
It is given as local anaesthetic injections just above the smile, at the Yonsei Point, which is where three muscles meet. The injections work by paralyzing the muscles that pull up the corners of the mouth, and as a result, stop the excessive display of gum tissue.
A part of the connective tissue from the inner side of the upper lip is removed. This is done in order to prevent the lifting of the muscles located between your lip and nose so that your upper lip may not be lifted too high above your teeth. So, a gummy smile can be treated through Lip Lifting surgery.
HOW MANY UNITS DO I NEED FOR GUMMY SMILE BOTOX TREATMENT? The amount of Botox units to treat excessive gum display also known as Gummy Smile can range from 6 to 20+ units. Consultation with a medical professional is required before confirming the exact amount for each individual.
BOTOX® results typically last three to six months before another treatment is required. With an overexposed gum line, it can be tempting to hide your smile. Thanks to BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment, you can fix a gummy smile and flash your grin without feeling self-conscious.
The effect of BT lasts anywhere between 4 and 7 months,19 thus patient will have to get repeated injections to treat gummy smile.
The Charismatic Complex Smile
A complex smile lives up to its name. It's the most complex smile style, and it's also the most rare, found in only about 2% of people naturally. A complex smile combines the movements in both the other smile styles and adds to it a simultaneous lowering of the lower lip.