GUMMY SMILE
A gummy smile is characterized by the excessive display of the gums when a person smiles, and it may be triggered by several factors such as a short upper lip, robust smile muscles, a short crown length, or excessive gingival tissue. While some individuals may find a gummy smile endearing as it adds authenticity to their smile, most people would prefer to eliminate it. Fortunately, minor cases of a gummy smile can be remedied with two straightforward procedures that can be completed in just one appointment.
Benefits for a Gummy Smile:
- Strong Smile Muscles
- Enlarged Gingiva
- Short tooth crown
- Skeletal reasons
- Short upper lip
Treatment of a Gummy Smile Caused by Strong Smile Muscles:
In cases where a gummy smile is compounded by powerful smile muscles, the objective is to reduce the strength of these muscles as a treatment strategy. This is achieved by administering injections of botulinum toxin to the specific smile muscles responsible for excessive upward movement of the lips. The injection does not adversely affect the smile as it targets only select muscles. The effects of botulinum toxin become noticeable after one week of treatment and typically last between six months to one year.
Treatment of a Gummy Smile Associated with Gxcessive Gingival Tissue or Short Crown Length:
If your gums are causing your teeth to appear shorter and become visible when you smile, our dental team may perform a procedure called “Gingivoplasty” on your gums. This process entails the removal of excess gingival tissue through the use of either a soft tissue laser or a blade. The diode laser is a bladeless alternative that eliminates bleeding during the procedure. In addition, when gingivoplasty and gingivectomy procedures are performed with a diode laser, they tend to heal much quicker compared to those done with blades. When we perform gingivoplasty using a diode laser, your gums should fully recover within approximately three days. We commonly use diode lasers for soft tissue adjustments.
Gingivoplasty + Botulinum Toxin Combination for Gummy Smile:
For cases of a more advanced gummy smile, we may utilize a combination of procedures to address the issue. These procedures can be completed in a single appointment and typically last no longer than 90 minutes.
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