Having little gum may not be a problem for some people; however, showing too much gum can make you self-conscious. Although a gummy smile may not affect the function of the gums, it can impact the aesthetics of your smile. Your gums should frame the teeth proportionally while also helping stabilize them. There are many reasons why your smile may be gummy.
Excess Gum Tissue
The most obvious reason for a gummy smile is excess gum tissue. Too much gum tissue tends to hide part of the white crowns of the teeth. A dentist can correct this problem with a procedure known as crown lengthening. The aim of this treatment is to remove the excess gum tissue and reshape the remaining one and bone in order to allow the teeth to show more length.
Short Shape and Size of your Teeth
Having too short or too small of the length of a tooth can present as a gummy smile. Constant grinding of the teeth and aging are some of the causes. Also, if the teeth don’t erupt fully, your mouth may look as though it has excess gum. A dentist may use veneers, crowns, and other bonding techniques to lengthen the teeth.
Excess Length or Movement of the Lip
If your upper lip tends to rise too high while smiling, your smile could look gummy, a condition referred to as hypermobility. A dentist may use Botox injections to solve this problem. The injections freeze the upper lip muscles temporarily, preventing them from rising too high. To provide a permanent solution, the dentist can perform periodontal surgery.
If your smile is gummy due to an overextended jaw, length of the lip, or short size of the teeth, visit us for treatment. Schedule an appointment with us to determine what procedure or treatment works for your specific case. Our team will find out the cause of your gummy smile before recommending the right procedure.
