Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry

Gummy Smile

When you smile, does it look like your upper teeth are proportionally out of balance due to excessive gum tissue? Does it appear like your upper teeth are too short compared to the gum tissue displayed during your smile? If this is the case, you may have a common issue called a gummy smile or excessive gingival display.

A gummy smile can negatively impact the perception of your smile. Your gummy smile can be easily and quickly corrected with one of a few treatment options, one being gum contouring.

Your compassionate team at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is wholly committed to providing you, your family, and every patient with comprehensive periodontal care that improves your oral health and daily function. We pride ourselves on offering a safe, comfortable, and relaxing environment to ensure all patients receive the personalized care and treatment that is expected and deserved. You will find us to excel in effective communication, both in listening and sharing examination objectives. With our initiative-taking engagement in the dental industry and the constant innovative technological improvements offered, each exam and corresponding treatment is completely personalized. Call Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry at 502-570-5700 with any questions or to make an appointment for a gummy smile evaluation.

An attractive smile is more than straight, white teeth. It is also the ratio between the front teeth and the visible gums. A gummy smile shows more gum than is recommended. If your gummy smile is undesirable, simple gum contouring will quickly restore an aesthetically pleasing balance between teeth and gums during your smile.

Some Causes of a Gummy Smile

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with your teeth or your gums if you have a gummy smile. The perfect ratio with your teeth and gums is mostly a cosmetic issue, so it is not a problem unless you are self-conscious about it. It might have happened because your teeth did not emerge properly from your gums, which is called delayed passive eruption. It may happen because your upper lip pulls back farther than normal during your smile.

Your smile can also appear gummy if your teeth have become worn down. Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry can easily correct your gummy smile with gum contouring to modify your gumline. Here are some causes of a gummy smile:

  • An excessive show of gum tissue in your upper arch might be from the abnormal eruption of your teeth. Teeth covered with too much gum tissue look shorter, even though they are of normal length.
  • The muscle that powers your upper lip could be hyperactive, causing your upper lip to lift higher than normal. More gum tissue is now exposed during your smile.
  • The way your upper jawbone develops can also create the look of a gummy smile. If there is a bulging protrusion of your upper jaw, you will have a gummy smile.

Is It Just an Aesthetic Problem?

The smile line or aesthetic zone, or the teeth visible during your smile, is determined by several factors, including:

  • The size, shape, and length of your front teeth.
  • Your visible gum tissue.
  • The size and shape of your lips.
  • Your facial muscles.

The desired smile line should reveal just a little less gum tissue. Your gum tissue visible during your smile should be balanced, with parallel gumline contours in harmony with your upper lip. This is why you may find your smile unattractive and feel reluctant to share your smile.

Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry could find other underlying dental conditions. If you have a gummy smile because of how your teeth erupted or how your jaw developed, you may also have an improper bite that can affect your long-term oral health.

The Different Treatment Options for a Gummy Smile

If you think you may have a gummy smile, visit the team at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry for an evaluation and to discuss your options. There are research studies that have determined what is now considered an excessive gingival display. They conclude that a smile is attractive when two millimeters or less of gum tissue is exposed. With more than three millimeters, the smile is considered gummy. We will examine your teeth and gums to determine the extent of your gummy smile and the potential causes. This examination might include conventional or digital impressions. We will also take X-rays so that we can examine your tooth roots and jawbone. Treatment at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry may include one or more of the following:

  • Quick, same-day laser treatment if your case is straightforward.
  • Surgical sculpting of your gum tissues and bone to produce healthier, more natural, and more attractive-looking gum contours.
  • Surgical lip repositioning.
  • Orthodontics to relocate the teeth into their correct positions if the issue is alignment.
  • Maxillofacial surgery to reposition any bone.

The team at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry could also perform a crown lengthening procedure to correct the appearance of your gummy smile. During this simple treatment, we remove any excess gum tissue to expose more of the crown of the tooth. This gum contouring procedure can be done on any number of teeth to create an even gum line for a healthier-looking smile.

The American Academy of Periodontology states that the benefits of gum contouring include increased comfort, increased self-confidence and self-esteem when smiling, eating, and speaking, as well as overall improved periodontal health.

Your Smile is Our Number One Priority

Our treatment philosophy at Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is focused on patient education and the enhancement of your quality of life. We provide gentle, affordable, and painless periodontal care. We prioritize providing each patient with the information they need to make confident, informed decisions regarding their personal oral health treatment. Our experience is foundational in giving you restoratively minded periodontal treatment customized for your unique needs.

Our team specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease and in the placement of dental implants. We consider ourselves experts in the treatment of oral inflammation. We have received extensive education and training in these areas. We are familiar with the latest techniques for diagnosing and treating periodontal disease, and we are also trained in performing cosmetic periodontal procedures.

You can find Georgetown Periodontics & Implant Dentistry at:

107 Frazier Ct., 1D, Georgetown, KY

Or call us today at 502-570-5700