What are the causes for a Gummy Smile?

There are several reasons that can cause a gummy smile. They could be just genetics or the result of wear.

• Your upper lip could be moving up higher than normal while smiling or talking, exposing more of your gums
• Your upper lip is too short and exposes more of your upper gums
• The size and position of your upper jaw bone could be the cause of your gummy smile
• Abnormal teeth growth in your upper jaw could have resulted in excessive gum tissue covering your teeth
• You could have a condition called gingival hypertrophy which results in enlarged gums
• Your gummy smile could be due to a condition called vertical maxillary excess that creates a bulge in your gums

What are the treatments for a gummy smile?

Your dentist will have to first determine the cause for your gummy smile and then decide on a treatment.

Lip re-positioning:

In this procedure a section of the gum tissue under the upper lip is surgically removed. The top and bottom are then stitched together. This results in a shorter looking lip which will cover the gums and change your gummy smile.

Orthodontics:

If the gummy smile is caused by a bad bite, then orthodontics can be used as a treatment. Your orthodontist will suggest either traditional braces or clear aligners. The braces or aligners will re-align your bite into it's correct position and reduce the amount of gum tissue visible.

Veneers or crowns:

Dental veneers or crowns could be used to make the teeth appear longer. This could be a solution for a gummy smile caused due to wear and tear of the teeth.

Scaling:

Sometimes the treatment could be as simple as teeth scaling. Scaling can be used when the gummy smile is caused due to inflamed or infected gums.