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How To Fix A Gummy Smile
If you have a gummy smile, more of your gum tissue will show when you smile. There are four ways to fix a gummy smile:
3) Botox
According to a study when the amount of gingival tissue displayed while smiling is 3.0 mm or greater, the smile is described as gummy. In orthodontic terminology a gummy smile is described as an 'excessive gingival display,' and a study rated smiles as more attractive when less than two millimeters of gum were showing between the lip line and the front teeth. At Stroede Orthodontics we're here to help you achieve the smile you envision, and whether you feel you have a gummy smile or just have small teeth with big gums, read on to discover how you can fix a gummy smile, and what causes too much gum in your smile.
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Treatments For Gummy Smiles
At Stroede Orthodontics we'll start by helping you identify the cause of your gummy smile whether it is hereditary or non-hereditary. We'll look at your teeth, lips, jaw, and gums and determine the cause of your gummy smile, and determine the best course of action to fix your gummy smile. Then, you'll finally be on your way to display the right proportion of teeth, gums, and lips that makes up the beautiful and healthy smile you deserve. Let's take a look at some of the ways we can help you fix your gummy smile.
Orthodontic Treatment
1) Orthodontic Appliances. If you have a mild gummy smile and the issue is due to orthodontic problems, then orthodontics like Invisalign or Damon Braces may be the first step because they help correct jaw problems which can make your gums appear larger when smiling. After treatment many patients resolved their bite issues and by extension their gums appear smaller and more proportionate with their straightened teeth and new jaw alignment.
2) Gum Contouring. Also called a Gingivectomy and a gum lift, contouring is a cosmetic dental procedure that removes excessive gum tissue to reshape the way the gums support and surround the tooth. Your orthodontist can contour the soft tissue of your mouth, and reduce genetic and non-genetic causes of a gummy smile.
3) Veneers or Crowns. Dental crowns and veneers can be used to make your teeth appear longer. They're often installed when people have genetically small teeth, or have worn down their teeth due to age or an accident. Many patients are self-conscious about their gum line and veneers or crowns give you back control of your smile with a cosmetic application that restores the fullness of your teeth.
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This was the first time meeting with an Orthodontist. Dr. Stroede and her staff was so awesome. Really made the experience easy and non-stressful.
WOW! I can't say enough good things about the staff and Dr. Stroede. From the first consult to the final exam, they did an amazing job. For my daughter, they made her feel welcome and comfortable with the process. They lived up to her expectations and the staff was consistent with the quality of care they provided her. For me, they worked with the insurance company and provided an excellent plan to complete payment. Having multiple locations helped me plan my daughter's appointment. I'm happy to say, they'll be getting repeat business form me when it comes time for my son. Thanks for making and giving my daughter a wonderful smile!
Lip Repositioning
This is necessary when the upper lip is either too short or overly flexible, and it exposes too much gum when you smile. This safe and easy procedure restricts the pull of muscles in your upper lip so that your lip covers more of your gums, thus reducing the visibility of your gummy smile.
Botox
Botox is a convenient and affordable way of dealing with a gummy smile when your lip has an extra strong muscle that pulls it above the gum line. Botox works by temporarily paralyzing the muscles in your upper lip, so your lip won’t go up so high. Though botox is less expensive then other options to fix your gummy smile, the downside is the results are short-term lasting only three to four months at a time.
Surgical Options
Maxillofacial Surgery.
No one likes surgery, but the results of maxillofacial surgery to address gummy smiles can be the most positively dramatic. In many genetic cases, a patient's upper jaw, called a maxilla, needs to be repositioned upwards by a bimaxillary orthognathic surgery in order to normalize the patient's tooth and gum display. Usually this procedure is accompanied by an orthodontic appliance as well, and the effect is to eliminate excess gums and dramatically transform your smile. This gummy smile treatment can be life-changing for individuals who did not even know there was something that could be done.
What Causes a Gummy Smile?
Genetic Causes
More often than not, a gummy smile is ancestral or inherited anatomy from your parents. They may have passed down genetics like little teeth and big gums, a short upper lip, or a large jaw that has caused more of your gums to show when you smile. Don't worry, this can often be addressed through
orthodontic treatment and gum contouring, which corrects your bite and sculpts your gums so they're less prominent between your upper lip and teeth.
Non-Genetic or Symptomatic Causes
Some of the non-genetic causes of a gummy smile include:
1) Thick Gums or 'Thick Gingival Phenotype.' This is when you have thick gums that cover too much of your teeth, making them appear small, like short teeth. In this case, your teeth only appear short because they may have erupted improperly and are partially covered by gum tissue. In general, teeth erupt (grow in) beneath the gum line until they reach an ideal length and then the gums recede to expose them. When teeth grow in less than desirable positions, some of your gums stay in front of the tooth with an excess of gum tissue on display when you smile. This can also happen if you had a filling placed when you were younger that was improperly placed and has caused a gum extension over it. Keep reading, the good news is there are solutions for every cause of a gummy smile, and short teeth caused by thick gums can be elongated to fix a gummy smile.
2) Inflammation of the Gums or 'Gingival hypertrophy.' This is a condition that causes your gums to become excessive, which is why it's also called gingival enlargement. This is usually caused by chronic trauma to your gums and teeth from physical habits such as biting your nails, chewing on pens and pencils, grinding your teeth and clenching them or even using improper brushing techniques. The effect on your gums is inflammation causing them to become tender and red, and it can trigger bleeding. If you have this cause of a gummy smile, the good news is your gums can be nurtured and shaped by scaling and root planing.
3) Overgrowth of the Gums or 'Vertical Maxillary Excess.' This is a condition in which the upper jaw is excessively large, and it's accompanied by your teeth becoming too small for your jaw. This makes your gum tissue and lips appear larger, and because of the extra size of your upper jaw, you may even have difficulty closing your mouth completely. Patients with this cause of a gummy smile can benefit from both surgical and non-surgical orthodontic treatment that ultimately reduces gummy smile.
4) Circumstantial Teeth Loss. In severe cases, your gummy smile may be because you have lost some or all of your teeth entirely because of circumstances like calcium deficiency. Obviously, losing your teeth exposes your gums without proper support, but do not be discouraged because there are many ways to give you back your beautiful smile. For example, you may be inspired by this mom in New York City whose gummy smile was the result of losing her teeth after pregnancy. When the majority of your teeth are lost due to age or circumstance, your gummy smile can be restored with dental implants or dentures. Teeth are vital for eating and giving you back the smile you deserve, like the story of this woman whose life was changed when she received a brand new set of teeth after losing them following drug addiction.
Make An Appointment
Dr. Claire Stroede and her team of dental professionals are here to help fix your gummy smile. We want to help you with your teeth. We'll work with this gum tissue until your smile is back and it’s bright and shiny. To schedule an appointment or learn more about how Stroede Orthodontics can help you with your orthodontic needs, just reach out to us! Dr. Stroede has been providing quality dental care to her patients for many years and is dedicated to giving them the best dental experience possible.
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Awesome warm and welcoming staff with outstanding dental care! Highly recommended.
