A gummy smile is not attractive but Cosmetic Dentistry can help. There are several causes and treatment is based on the cause. The cosmetic dentist's knowledge is important for a good result. A child's teeth are naturally covered with gums. With age the gums recede to reveal a beautiful smile (passive eruption). In some people it does not happen and the gums hide the smile. The treatment is to remove and shape the gums to frame a beautiful smile. The procedures are gingivectomy and gingivoplasty. An electosurgery knife is ideal for this procedure which can be done in the dental office.
Some medical conditions and medications cause excessive gum growth and the cosmetic dentist must work closely with the patient's physician. A gummy smile can be due to short teeth or excessive supporting bone. Habits such as tooth grinding cause excessive wear that shortens teeth. The surrounding bone can be shaped to show more tooth. This procedure is called crown lengthening. In most cases the shapes and colors of the newly exposed teeth can be improved. Dental veneers are a wonderful way to do this.
Sometimes the teeth are okay and the gummy smile comes from a short upper lip that pulls up too high. Some plastic surgeons inject Botox in the upper lip to prevent it from pulling up and revealing the gums. However, a dead looking upper lip can eliminate personality and give others a feeling that something is wrong.
A gummy smile can be associated with an long upper jaw. The length of the upper jaw can be reduced using orthognathic surgery. It's a serious surgery performed under general anaesthesia in a hospital operating room. It must be carefully planned because there's no going back. Poor positioning of the upper front teeth can create problems and orthodontics corrects this. It's best done by a cosmetic dentist who understands both gum tissue and cosmetic dentistry procedures and knows how to create beautiful smiles. Even when several doctors are involved, the cosmetic dentist should be the director of all activities because ultimately the cosmetic dentist is responsible for the final smile and continues to care for the patient many years later. If you would like to consult with Dr. Padolsky, make your appointment at 404-874-7428.