How much of your gum tissue can be seen whenever you show off your teeth? Ideally, the answer should be two millimeters or fewer. If more than that is visible, then you have what’s known as a gummy smile. But while this type of cosmetic problem can certainly leave you feeling less than confident, it is not unsolvable. Below you can discover potential solutions for a gummy smile that can leave you with a much more balanced-looking grin.
What Can Cause a Gummy Smile?
Before pursuing treatment for a gummy smile, it helps to have an idea of what might have caused it in the first place. In certain cases, it could be a matter of genetics; some people just naturally have more gum tissue than normal. Another possible explanation is that the upper lip is unusually short, thus causing it to show off more of your gums when you pull it back to smile.
Unusually small teeth could also result in a smile that looks gummy. You may end up with shorter teeth as a consequence of bruxism. This is a condition where you unconsciously grind and clench your teeth, gradually wearing down the enamel protecting them.
How Can a Gummy Smile Be Corrected?
If you’re bothered by an excessive amount of gum tissue when you smile, you should speak to your periodontist. Oftentimes, they will be able to help you achieve a more balanced grin through aesthetic crown lengthening, which is also sometimes referred to as gum recontouring or gingivectomy.
The concept behind crown lengthening is very simple. It involves your periodontist reshaping your gumline by removing the gum tissue that you don’t need, resulting in a more symmetrical-looking smile that draws the right sort of attention. The crown lengthening procedure can often be performed with a soft tissue laser, which is so gentle that you likely won’t even need to have your mouth numbed with a local anesthetic.
There are other treatments for a gummy smile that can be considered. For example, if the problem is that your teeth are shorter than normal, you can speak to your regular dentist about having them lengthened with veneers. In other situations, BOTOX® can potentially help by temporarily freezing certain facial muscles, thereby causing your lips not to pull back as much when you’re smiling.
A gummy smile is not something you have to live with. By narrowing down what’s causing the aesthetic issue, you can figure out the best way to address it and create a grin that you can be proud of.
About the Author
Dr. Eduardo R. Lorenzana is a periodontist who has been board-certified by the American Board of Periodontology. He has had well over two decades of experience when it comes to periodontal and dental implant procedures. He offers gummy smile correction along with other aesthetic-enhancing periodontal services. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Lorenzana at Lorenzana Periodontics in San Antonio, visit his website or call (210) 492-3519.