When you smile do you feel that your gum tissues show more than your teeth? If yes then you might have a condition called gummy smile. People with this condition are often self conscious and typically don’t seek treatment because they are unaware of the possibilities of their treatment options.
WHAT CAUSES OF A GUMMY SMILE?
There are several possible causes of gummy smile, including:
- Abnormal eruption of teeth. Sometimes, teeth of proper length are also covered by excessive gum tissues.
- Short upper lip that causing to expose the gum tissues more.
- Excess overbite
- Hyperactive movement of muscles of your upper lip that causes the lip to rise up higher than normal, showing your gums more when you smile.
- The development of the structure of your jaw bone that causes the appearance of a gummy smile.
- As a person ages the gum tissues don’t recede.
IS A GUMMY SMILE ONLY AN AESTHETIC ISSUE?
Your smile is determined by the shape and size of your lips and teeth, your facial muscles and your gum tissues. An ideal smile is 90-95% teeth and only 5-10% gingival or gum tissues. If there is an imbalance, then it can have an impact on the aesthetics of your smile lowering your self confidence and making you reluctant to smile.
However, depending on the factors causing a gummy smile, more serious underlying dental conditions could be present. For example, if you have a gummy smile caused as a result of how the teeth erupted and how the jaw developed, you may also have an uncomfortable or improper bite that could ultimately affect your long-term oral health.
WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS OF GUMMY SMILE TREATMENT?
If you think you have a gummy smile, visit us for confirmation and treatment options. We will examine your mouth, teeth and gums to determine the extent of the excessive gum tissue display and any possible causes.
This examination may involve :
- Your teeth and gums impressions (Conventional and/or digital).
- X-ray imaging to examine tooth roots and jaw bone.
- Depending on the results and the condition, treatment could include one or more of the following:
- Orthodontics (braces) to move the teeth into more suitable positions.
- Surgical correction of the gums like Gingivoplasty, which is correction of gum tissue to improve the appearance of the gum tissue around the teeth. And correction of Gingivectomy, a procedure to remove excess gum tissue.
- Maxillofacial (Jaw and face) surgery to reposition the bone.
- Cosmetic Dentistry to increase the surface of our teeth if your teeth are small as compared as your gums.
A proper diagnosis is very important as gummy smile can exist due to many reasons. There can be a combination of factors that causes a gummy smile and as a result various options of treatment. But its important not to make the treatment more complicated than the problem itself. We are sensitive to your emotional being and so take careful consideration of all the aspects to give you a confident smile.