Treatment Options for a Gummy Smile

Never Hold Back Your Biggest Smile!

Does your upper lip disappear when you smile or do your gums show more than you’d like when you laugh? Gummy smile is a condition where a person’s gums are very visible when they smile, often resulting in an uneven or disproportionate appearance of the teeth and gums. The condition can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, muscle function, and the development of the jaw.

The treatment options for gummy smile depend on the underlying cause of the condition. Some possible options include:

Dental Botox®: When the cause of a patient’s gummy smile is a hyperactive lip muscle, Botox can be used to relax the muscles that control the upper lip. Botox works by blocking signals from the nerve to the muscle fiber, and this causes the muscle to relax. This relaxation prevents the lip from rising too high when smiling and it reduces the appearance of gums. Patients are still able to smile naturally and will not notice any change in the function of their lips. Click here to learn more about Dental Botox!

Orthodontics: In some cases, gummy smile is caused by a misalignment of the teeth, for example excessive overbite or deep bite. Orthodontic treatment such as braces or Invisalign® can be used to reposition the teeth and improve or eliminate the appearance of a gummy smile. Click here to learn more about Invisalign!

Crown Lengthening: Sometimes patients have more gum and supporting tissue covering their teeth than proportionally necessary. Crown lengthening involves removing a small amount of gum (and sometimes also the bone underneath) to expose more of the tooth. This results in a more balanced ratio of the gums and teeth. Depending on the complexity of the case, this procedure may require referral to a periodontist (gum specialist). Dental crowns are usually recommended after crown lengthening to provide the most aesthetic and stable result.

Oral Surgery: In more severe cases cases, oral surgery may be needed to reposition the jaw in order to improve the appearance of the gums and teeth.

A combination of treatments may be necessary to achieve the desired result.

Ask us about gummy smile treatment options at your next visit or call us at 905-332-6433 to book a consult!