A gummy or in medical terms excessive gingival display is when you smile and too much gum tissues can be seen above the teeth. It can be fixed. Gummy smile correction depends on what’s causing the excessive gum display.
OVERVIEW
There is an old proverb that when you smile, the whole world smiles with you. A smile conveys happiness, confident and whatnot. Smile is a natural expression during happy times, when we enjoy and cherish moments, when we are with loved once.
According to research performed by Arizona State University, out of 200 people, 197 people were feeling less depressed when regularly smiled at work. Not only depression. Smiling often can also reduce pain. Research published by Dr. Earlexia in the Henry Ford Health system blog suggests this amazing result.
HOW TO DIAGNOSE A GUMMY SMILE?
According to statistics, about 10 – 15% of all people have a gingival smile. A gummy smile is fairly easy to diagnose; determining its causes, on the other hand, is more complicated. A smile is considered to be gummy if more than 2 or 3mm of gum is visible during sustained smiling. For this reason, complete diagnosis is required. Therefore, it is advisable to visit a dentist if you think you have a Gummy Smile.
WHAT CAUSES A GUMMY SMILE?
There are a number of causes of a Gummy Smile.
- Teeth that appear short because they erupted improperly and remain partially covered by gum tissue.
- Teeth that are small in comparison to the gums due to genetics or wear.
- An upper lip that is too short.
- A hyperactive upper lip that is normal in length when the face is resting but lifts too high when smiling exposing a lot of gum tissue.
- Gums that are long or enlarged, known as gingival hypertrophy.
- An overgrowth of the upper jaw, called vertical maxillary excess, that makes gums bulge out.
If we look closely, the causes are mostly related to the teeth, lips, jaws or gums, which happen to be the key components that dictate your smile aesthetics
The health concerns associated with a gummy smile are minimal. A person suffering from a gummy smile might feel self-conscious, and that can negatively impact a person’s self-esteem. In conclusion, a person seeking treatment for gummy smile most likely is looking to achieve the best smile possible to look and feel better.
GUMMY SMILE CORRECTION
After a complete examination, the dentist can determine the extent of gingival display and possible cause. If not, the dentist can refer to a specialist, like a periodontist, orthodontist or an oral surgeon. This examination may involve conventional or digital impressions of the teeth and gums. If needed X-ray imaging is done on the tooth roots and jaw bone.
Surgical Treatment
Depending on the nature and extent of the clinical condition, treatment could include one of the following.
- Laser treatments (in minor cases).
- Surgical lip repositioning.
- Orthodontics (braces) to move the teeth into more suitable positions.
- Surgical Sculpting of the gingival tissues and bone to create healthier and more attractive looking gum contours.
- Maxillofacial surgery to reposition the bone.
Non-surgical treatment
Most non-surgical gummy smile correction is done with Botox. This treatment targets the levator muscles, the muscles that control the movement of the upper lip, in the nasolabial fold area. Botox is injected into these muscles to restrict movement. Botox overlaps the sensitivity of the muscles to nerve impulses and as a result, the upper lip ceases to rise, plummeting gum exposure. This technique is simple and effortless and can be a good choice to correct your gummy smile. The disadvantage of this technique is that Botox acts temporarily and you will need to repeat the procedure after 6 months.
Another solution for correcting a gummy smile without surgery is through lip-enhancement. This process allows correcting a smile by using dermal fillers in the upper lip. Dermal fillers are vaccinated into the upper lip, to elongate the lip and cover the exposed gum. This will have an effect not only for gums covering but will also help to increase the thickness and improve the shape of your lips. If you’d like to get a permanent result, we recommend doing a surgical correction.
CONCLUSION
A good smile can be one of your greatest assets in a person’s life. It’s a small and simple thing but it pays back in so many ways. Stand out in the crowd, be remarkable, and best of all improve your complete health and appearance.
Aesthetica is the starting point for healthy smiles. Lead by Dr. Kamlesh Kothari and a team of highly expertise dentists who have hundreds of years of combined expertise, our goal is to provide holistic dental health and elegant smiles to our patients by combining scientific knowledge & expertise. With convenient locations in Kolkata, Howrah, and Shillong, we ensure the highest standards of hygiene with our sterilization procedures being monitored by the University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA, it is a multi-specialty dental office, able to manage everything from kids’ check-ups to oral surgery to gum therapies to implants. And because we’re committed to keeping you as comfortable as possible, we also offer automated email and SMS reminders, comprehensive treatment planning, transparent billing and almost nil waiting time.
If you suffer from a gummy smile, consult with the best dentist in Kolkata at Aesthetica to determine the cause and possible remedy. Thousands of people left with a better smile, you can too. Book your appointment today.