How to fix a Gummy Smile
Gummy smile - or excessive gingival display - is a common condition which causes too much gum tissue to show above your upper set of teeth when you smile.
What is a gummy smile?
Some people are self-conscious about their gummy smile, and will be pleased to learn that this condition can be fixed with a range of different treatments.
Excessive gingival display can be caused by a number of different factors. Once the source of the issue is identified, our orthodontists can recommend treatments and take action to restore your confident smile.
Many patients are surprised to discover that gummy smile isn’t a singular condition - it’s a symptom of various irregularities, and caused by several different and often coexisting factors. In fact, the presence and severity of a gummy smile depends upon the perception of the individual.
For many people, a gummy smile is a cause of reduced confidence in their appearance, and most patients that seek advice and treatment for the condition do so for aesthetic reasons.
Different people have different ideas of how much gingival display constitutes a gummy smile, and there have been numerous studies of the gum to try and determine how much visible gum is ‘too much’.
Dental professionals found that smiles showing more than three millimetres of gum tissue were perceived as ‘gummy’. The condition is twice as common among women than men, with approximately 10%1 of people experiencing excessive gingival display in their lifetime
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What causes a gummy smile?
Because a gummy smile is caused by perceptions of proportion, positioning and other factors, there are several reasons why an individual may feel their smile shows too much gum. The most common causes of gummy smile include the following:
Gummy smiles are often caused genetically. As a general rule, excessive gingival display does not pose oral health concerns, and treating a gummy smile aims to elevate the aesthetic appearance of the patient.
How is a gummy smile treated?
If your excessive gingival display is relatively mild and caused by issues with your jaw or teeth, it can be rectified with orthodontic procedures. With the use of traditional metal braces, lingual braces or Invisalign aligners, your bite can be shifted into a position which makes your gums appear less prominent.
More moderate or severe protrusions of the jaw may need to be treated with jaw surgery and orthodontic treatment combined. You may need to be seen by an oral surgeon, who will be able to recontour your upper jaw and reposition it. Less severe cases can also be treated with gum contouring. Carried out under local anaesthetic, gum contouring is an aesthetic procedure which surgically sculpts the gum line, reducing the appearance of gum recession and creating a more even-looking smile.
If your gummy smile cannot be corrected with orthodontics, or you don’t like the idea of jaw surgery and gum contouring, some patients opt for treatment with botulinum toxin.
What is the best treatment for gummy smile?
The right approach for correcting a gummy smile will depend on why excessive gingival display has happened. Your dentist will be able to offer advice during your appointment, recommending a course of treatment to restore your confident smile. Contact a local Bupa dentist to find out more.
Bupa Dental Care is a trading name of Oasis Dental Care Limited. Registered in England and Wales No: 00478127. Registered office: Bupa Dental Care, Vantage Office Park, Old Gloucester Road, Hambrook, Bristol, United Kingdom BS16 1GW.
Oasis Dental Care Limited has a number of trading names including Bupa Dental Care. For a list of all our different trading names please follow this link.
