Gum Recontouring (Gummy Smile)

What is a Gummy smile?

Have you ever wondered that when you smile more “pink” (gums) shows than “white” (teeth)?

If Yes, then you have a Gummy smile …The ideal ratio of pink to white should be around 1:2…anything more than that teeters into the GUMMY SMILE bracket.

A smile is considered a “Gummy smile” if a significant amount of gingival tissue (gums) can be seen as a person smiles.  Although a gummy smile is considered a normal variation of human anatomy, many people with gummy smiles are very self-conscious when smiling. Gummy smiles range from mild, moderate, and advanced, to severe. Fortunately, these smiles can now be corrected swiftly and painlessly (in some cases without even local anaesthesia) and no bleeding or post operative discomfort whatsoever, with our ultra modern State-of-the-art Laser technology.

Why do some people have Gummy smiles?

The following causes have been established.

• Developmental or genetic influences.
• If the upper jaw bone is much larger than the lower jaw bone, the upper lip might appear stretched, causing an excessive display of gum tissues when a person speaks or smiles.
• When the upper lip muscles are over-active they pull the lip upwards, creating the appearance of a gummy smile.
• The formation of excess bone over the outer surfaces of the teeth, creating the appearance of a bulge of gum tissue above the teeth.
• When there is incomplete recession of gum tissue as the adult teeth erupt into the mouth, the teeth will look disproportionately small in relation to other anatomic facial features.
• Previous orthodontic treatment.
• Certain medications can cause excessive gum tissue proliferation, a side effect known as gingival hyperplasia.
  
  Gummy Smile Treatment:
  
  Correcting a gummy smile can be accomplished by one of two possible simple surgical procedures, depending upon the amount of gum reduction necessary You may require either a gingivectomy or gingival crown lengthening.  Both of these surgical procedures reduce the amount of gum tissue displayed.  No matter what technique is required, the results are always a more attractive looking smile!
  
  
  1. Gingivectomy: Gingivectomies are performed when the amount of gum reduction necessary is minimal such as in mild-moderate gummy smiles.  During a Gingivectomy, a minimal amount of gum tissue is removed with a modern technological dental laser.  The procedure is painless, since the laser can work to help with closing up blood vessels such that there is no bleeding and absolutely no pain!!
  
  The recovery time after a laser process is much shorter than that of what is used for a scalpel process.
  
  
  

A patient with a high lip line showing excessive amount of gum tissue

Gum Recontouring done with laser

6 Porcelain Laminate Veneers Six days later corrects the Gummy Smile restoring back the 2:1 White : Pink ratio

2. Crown Lengthening: More advanced gummy smiles require more extensive tissue reduction. This is performed by a procedure known as crown lengthening. During this painless procedure, the gum tissues are lifted off the bone and placed in a desired new position and some bone around the teeth is also minimally reduced and contoured. This is done so as to prevent the gum from possibly moving back towards the teeth later on.

If you have a gummy smile, you should look into getting your gums corrected through a gum recontouring process……….
 

Advanced Laser technology has come along just in time to address the felt needs and wants of our clients who today consider a beautiful smile no longer as a luxury but a necessary part of their lifestyles!!!