A “gummy smile” is when a person’s upper gums are very prominently shown when they smile. It is usually characterized by the upper teeth appearing too short, or the upper gums appearing to be too long. This harmless condition is highly subjective – and entirely dependent upon what the person feels is aesthetically pleasing.
Dentists and plastic surgeons estimate that around 7 percent of men and 14 percent of women have a “excessive gingival displays” which is the medical term for a gummy smile. Some dentists estimate that figure is much higher, as many people don’t seek treatment for what others would consider to be a gummy smile.
What Causes a Gummy Smile?
Genetics are the controlling factor for gummy smiles. The most common reasons are excessive gum tissue, small teeth, or a short upper lip. Teeth that are the proper length can appear short due to excessive gum tissue.
There could also be an issue with the movement of the upper lip where it becomes hyperactive and rises up higher than normal. When this happens, more gum tissue is exposed when a person smiles. The development of the jaw bone could also cause the appearance of a gummy smile. If the jaw has an excessive protrusion within the gum tissue, it could cause the gums to appear more prominently when smiling.
What is a “normal” smile?
There really is no such thing as a “normal smile.” As long as a person’s smile is not causing medical issues, it is entirely subjective as to what is and what isn’t attractive. In trying to understand what a cross-section of society views as a “normal smile,” a study was performed wherein plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and dentists were asked what they consider to be normal.
The vast majority of participants stated that they considered a normal smile to show no more than 2mm of gum tissue. When the size of the gum tissue reached 3-4mm, people started to take notice and anything higher than 4mm stood out as being a smile that shows too much gum tissue.
When it comes to describing a person’s smile, dentists and plastic surgeons often refer to the “smile line” which is how many teeth are showing when a person smiles. The smile line takes into consideration the individual facial muscles of a person, shape and size of their lips, shape and size of the teeth, as well as the gum tissue. Anyone of these body parts can contribute in part or whole to a gummy smile. Dentists and plastic surgeons suggest that the optimal smile line appearance should reveal the least amount of gum tissue possible.
Treatment Options
There are many treatment options available for those who wish to correct their gummy smile. They range from minimally invasive, all the way up to major surgery. They kind of procedure a person will need to correct their gummy smile can only be determined by a qualified dentist.
In the past, the only option to treat a gummy smile was invasive surgery in which the gums were sliced open with a scalpel and that lead to massive bleeding and a long recovery. Fortunately, medical science has advanced to the point where there are several non-invasive treatment options available.
Laser Treatments – A laser gum contouring procedure can help sculpt the gums of a patient to make them less prominent. The procedure can be performed in an out-patient setting and the patient can return to normal activities after leaving the office.
Botox – In recent years, dentists have been successfully using Botox to help dramatically lessen the appearance of a gummy smile. It is injected into the upper lip “elevator” muscles, which in turn prevents the gums from showing. The only downside to Botox is that it must be administered every 3 – 4 months, otherwise the gummy smile will appear as prominent as it did before.
Orthodontics – In other situations where Botox and laser treatments might not be as effective, orthodontics (braces) can be used to move the teeth into positions where the gums won’t be showing when the patient smiles.
Surgery – In more extreme cases, surgery is the only option. There are many surgical procedures a dentist could perform. Maxillofacial surgery will help reposition the bone and surgical sculpting of the gingival tissues or lip repositioning can permanently fix a gummy smile.
Gummy Smile Treatments in Chicago
If you feel that too much gum tissue is showing when you smile, give us a call at (312) 787-2131. At Water Tower Dental Care, we specialize in the treatment of gummy smiles and offer a wide range of treatment options. Schedule an appointment to learn more about the options available to help treat your gums so that you can once again smile with confidence!
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