Treatments
Gummy Smile Correction
A gummy smile causes the gums to appear disproportionately large in comparison to the teeth.
About This Treatment
There isn’t a scientific definition for a gummy smile because the beauty seen in each smile is based on perception. But a smile showing less than two mm of gum tissue between the upper lip and the teeth is considered non-gummy, while a smile showing more than that is typically referred to as gummy.
The gummy smile correction aims at reducing the gumline, which means it extends the length of the teeth, improving their appearance. This procedure is for patients who desire a more balanced smile that highlights more of their teeth.
By making minor changes to the shape and contour of the gums, the appearance of your smile can be radically transformed. Gum recontouring can have many benefits:
- Elongating appearance of “short teeth”
- Maximizing smile symmetry
- Reducing redness along the gum line
- Improving gum health
- Improving the gum-to-tooth ratio
- Enhancing results of other cosmetic dentistry procedures
Some of our patients request a gummy smile correction because their teeth appear too short due to excess gum tissue or because their teeth are too short due to grinding. Therefore by adjusting the gum tissue, their teeth can appear longer.
- Immediate results
- Does not impede patient’s speech
- Does not affect the other facial muscles
- Little to no recovery time
- A beautiful, broad smile
- Restored confidence
- Improved facial aesthetics
Crown Lengthening
Crown lengthening can be performed when there isn’t enough of the tooth surface exposed for a crown to be properly fitted .This can be the case with severely chipped or broken teeth and those with severe tooth decay.
Crown lengthening reduces and recontours the gum tissue and the bone around a tooth so that there is more tooth above the gum’s surface. A properly fitted crown allows for better oral hygiene and comfort.
Some patients may seek out a lengthening for cosmetic reasons, in order to alter a gummy smile. Gum recontouring is also crown lenghtening and ideal in situations where teeth are too short and a portion of the crown is hiding below the gum ( teeth are under-erupted)
Lip repositioning
Lip repositioning is a procedure that permanently corrects a gummy smile by lowering the natural placement of the upper lip and drastically minimizing the exposure of gums.
The surgery limits the movement of hyperactive muscles in the upper lip, and is done by removing tissue from inside of the upper lip, to restrict the retraction of elevator muscles, reducing the appearance of the gums.
The surgery results in improved smiles and does not impede patients’ speech or other facial muscles.
A normal gum tissue display between the upper lip and teeth present in a “normal” smile is about 1–2 mm. In contrast, an excessive gum-to-lip distance of 4 mm or more is generally considered aesthetically “unattractive” by patients and dental care providers.
In this case, it is often the result of hyperactive elevator muscles that are responsible for the movement of the upper lip, which drastically rise when speaking or smiling, resulting in an excessive display of gum tissue.
When the elevator muscles are hyperactive, a surgical lip repositioning procedure can be performed to improve the gummy smile.
Benefits of Surgical Lip Repositioning
- Immediate results
- Does not impede patient’s speech
- Does not affect the other facial muscles
- Little to no recovery time
- A beautiful, broad smile
- Restored confidence
- Improved facial aesthetics
My experience with Dr. Germain has been nothing short of a pleasure. The attention to care and comfort is second to none and it’s a genuine joy to go to the dentist when being seen by Dr. Germain. She has taken her time inside and outside of our normal appointments to ensure that I am getting the treatment that I need to be confident about my teeth and oral hygiene. Superb knowledge and facilities, top tier professionalism but also a reassuring and friendly presence – couldn’t recommend her more highly.
- Why do I have a gummy smile?
This may be attributable to one of the following:
- Short upper lip
- Hyperactive muscles in the upper lip
- Excessive gum tissue
- Small teeth
- What are the types of gummy smile treatment?
1- aesthetic crown lengthening or also called gum lift, gum contour recontouring ( hyperlinks)
2- Surgical Lip repositioning ( in blue as hyperlink)- What to expect after gummy smile surgery / after crown lengthening?
Due to the medication prescribed after the procedure, recovery from aesthetic crown lengthening is generally smooth. Patients will be asked to ice the area for 24 hours and to take anti-inflammatories for a few days. A custom postoperative regimen will be given to patients based on their personal treatment needs. During the first few days after the procedure, the team at Identity clinic recommends that patients eat bland, soft foods, and avoid consuming anything too hot. Patients should also refrain from drinking alcohol and engaging in strenuous physical activity (such as going to the gym or lifting weights) to prevent excessive bleeding.
- What happens during a lip repositioning procedure?
A surgical lip repositioning treatment is performed by removing two strips of tissue from inside the upper lip, creating what’s known as a partial thickness flap, and restricting the movement of the hyperactive elevator muscles. The upper lip is then secured in a new, lower position, resulting in limited movement and a dramatically reduced gum display. This simple solution reduces the appearance of the gums and will improve the smile aesthetic of the patient.
