How To Fix A Gummy Smile?: Perfecting Smiles With Syra Aesthetics

How To Fix A Gummy Smile

A heartfelt smile is a lovely sight when your lips curve forward and your dazzling eyes crinkle. It denotes happiness and kinship as it can be hereditary.

The condition known as a gummy smile may impact that happiness for some people. You would know that you have a gummy smile when your smile exposes more gum tissues than you would like it to. Clinically speaking, it is referred to as an excessive gingival show, and anyone experiencing such a condition would definitely want to know how to fix a gummy smile.

Whether you think your smile is “too gummy” or not, depends entirely on your own aesthetic preferences – However, you should know that this is a very commonly occurring condition.

According to some experts, up to 10% of adults between the ages of 20 and 30 believe their smiles to be gummier than the look they desire. Also, there have been many more women than men who’ve complained about their gum lines being visible when they smile.

Syra Aesthetics brings you this article offering all the information you need to have when it comes to this aesthetically unpleasant condition, along with the answers to how to fix a gummy smile.

WHAT IS A GUMMY SMILE?

A smile that ends up exposing gum tissues in an excessive manner, to an extent of an unpleasant facial outlook is referred to as a “gummy smile”; also known as an “excessive gingival display.”

Generally speaking, a grin with the upper lip resting just over the row of upper teeth is more proportionate i.e. between 0 to 2 mm above. Although the eye may perceive another grin as less symmetrical or disproportionate, this does not indicate that it is necessarily less appealing.

Those with gummy smiles have reported feeling uneasy and embarrassed of smiling openly. It shouldn’t be a source of embarrassment or worry, as it is a widespread issue for many people. Various alternatives are available if you have a gummy smile and wish to improve its appearance. While both surgical and non-surgical options are available, non-invasive treatments are always a preferred choice for people for obvious reasons.

WHAT ARE THE GUMMY SMILE CAUSES?

According to research, several factors can contribute to the appearance of a gummy smile. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common gummy smiles causes.

DIFFERENCES IN THE GROWTH OF YOUR TEETH

A gummy smile may occasionally result from how your adult teeth erupt. Even though this varies for each individual, a study conducted back in 2014 indicated that it might be a familial trait.

A gummy smile could have resulted from the altered passive eruption – A condition where your gums cover more than the usual surface of your teeth when they first emerge.

Your gums may have expanded excessively if the teeth in the front of your mouth erupted or grew too far. Dentoalveolar extrusion is the medical term for this ailment.

Vertical maxillary excess, another issue, can also cause a gummy smile. This occurs when the bones in your upper jaw enlarge relative to their normal size.

LIP VARIATIONS

Your top lip may become sticky when it is on the shorter side. Moreover, if your lips are hypermobile, if they grin dramatically, they may end up exposing more of your gum line.

MEDICATIONS

Some drugs might make the gums around your teeth swell excessively. The term for this is gingival hyperplasia. Gum overgrowth may be brought on by medications that treat high blood pressure, inhibit the immune system, or prevent seizures.

In this situation, it’s crucial to take care of the illness. Clinical gum overgrowth can cause periodontal disease if left unchecked.

HOW TO FIX A GUMMY SMILE?

You undergo a thorough orthodontic exam (using cutting-edge i-CAT FLX v17 imaging equipment) when you visit an aesthetician for a consultation. This examination evaluates your teeth, gum, and jaw’s alignment; leading to a further treatment plan. Here’s the part where you will find out how to fix a gummy smile.

The best course of action for gummy smile correction will be decided using these high-quality photographs, your digital impressions created by our iTero Element ® 5D Scanner, along with a few other factors. The treatment plan that you choose to opt for, or is recommended by an expert may include any of the following therapies (or even a combination of therapies, if required)

BRACES OR CLEAR ALIGNERS

For minor gummy smiles, orthodontic treatment with braces, BRIUS, or Invisalign may be beneficial. The patient’s teeth will be adjusted, and the teeth will be moved into the proper position with braces and Invisalign, resulting in less gum tissue exposure.

During orthodontic therapy, a device known as a TAD (titanium anchoring device) may be implanted into the patient’s bone. These tiny, temporary implants can correct more severe forms of a gummy smile and assist in shifting the teeth into their ideal places.

GINGIVECTOMY

Also known as gummy smile surgery, a gingivectomy helps restructure extra gums to mimic the teeth’s natural form. This procedure harmonizes the two by lengthening the teeth while shortening the gums. The treatment is moderately painless, and post-operative discomfort is typically not severe for the patients.

Among all the treatments that can be used to correct an unwanted gummy smile, Botox for gummy smile has proven to be one of the most effective of all the treatments; along with also being the most popularly chosen one, considering its non-invasive and highly effective nature.

Here’s what you need to know about Botox for a gummy smile.

BOTOX FOR GUMMY SMILE

Botulinum toxin injections, also used for a lip flip for a gummy smile, may be effective if your gummy smile is caused by your lips moving too high up over your gum line when you smile.

In a 2016 study, 23 ladies with gummy smiles had the elevator muscles in their lips paralyzed with a Botox injection – 99.6% of the women experienced the required change in their smiles within a span of two weeks.

Compared to a surgical procedure, gummy smile botox is much less expensive and a  lot less invasive too. When smiling, the relaxed upper lip caused by Botox no longer contracts or raises as much. The operation is very efficient, and the effects typically last three months. We have discovered that as we repeat this procedure over time, we typically get longer intervals between treatments. After treatment, one can return to work immediately; the full effect usually occurs two weeks later.

These Botox shots can be continued and repeated after every three to four months. Additionally, there’s a chance that your doctor will administer too much Botox, distorting your grin.

UNITS OF BOTOX REQUIRED FOR A GUMMY SMILE

One to two Botox units are considered to be enough with the objective to fix a gummy smile. The muscles that contract or elevate when you smile are temporarily paralyzed by an injection of Botox in the region between your upper lip and nose, allowing you to smile without exposing your gums.

CONCLUSION

While there are a few surgical as well as non-surgical treatments to fix a gummy smile, most of us would want to opt for an affordable and non-invasive procedure; and if it happens to be the most effective and result-oriented procedure, that is the kind of luck we need when working to enhance our facial outlook.

Syra Aesthetics offers the best board-certified aestheticians who will offer a free-of-cost consultation, which can help you understand, decide, and set realistic expectations for your cosmetic results – Consequently, they also ensure provide the best patient experience while delivering the promised results. 

– Disclaimer –

This blog is for informational & educational purposes only and does not intend to substitute any professional medical advice or consultation.
For any symptoms or medical advice, please consult with your physician,

Or Book an appointment with our board-certified aestheticians at Syra Aesthetics.

Also read:
1) How to get rid of Gummy Smiles?
2) What Causes a Gummy Smile?

  • About The Author

    Dr. Syra Hanif M.D.

    Board Certified Primary Care Physician

Dr. Hanif is the Director of Aesthetic Medicine. She is a board-certified physician in Aesthetic Medicine who specializes in using non-surgical alternatives in order to enhance one's appearance through Botox and fillers.

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