Finding the Right Solution for Your Gummy Smile
When you smile, do you see too much of your gums? Do you see that the pink of your gums is a dominant feature, and your teeth look shorter than most people’s? If you answered “yes,” you might have what is known as a “gummy smile.” A gummy smile is a common dental cosmetic issue. Fortunately, there are many cosmetic dentistry treatments that make it possible to change the amount of gum tissue surrounding your teeth, allowing you to have a more natural and pleasing smile. Here is some important information about gummy smiles and the many options you can choose from to fix them.
What Causes a Gummy Smile?
The exact cause of a gummy smile is not really known. In most cases, patients with this feature find that this is a genetic issue with their parents or grandparents showing excessive amounts of gum tissue when they smile. Still, there are a few other reasons why a person would have a gummy smile.
- If the teeth have not properly erupted, they might still be partially covered by gum tissue, causing them to look shorter than normal with lots of gum tissue on display.
- Teeth have become eroded, causing them to look short compared to the gums.
- The patient has a condition called gingival hypertrophy where gums are enlarged or naturally long.
- There is an overgrowth in the upper jaw, a condition known as vertical maxillary excess that causes the gums to bulge.
Treatment Options for Gummy Smile
Patients with a gummy smile have a few potential treatment choices. The dentist should be able to tell which one is most likely the best choice depending on a person’s specific case and requirements. Some of the most common treatment options include the following:
- Gum contouring. This is a procedure that changes the gum line so the smile is more aesthetically pleasing. Gum contouring is done under a local anesthetic, although there are cases where sedation is necessary for nervous or anxious patients. The gum line is recontoured using a conventional scalpel or laser technology. Excess gum tissue is removed with the remaining gums left to heal around the teeth. The patient will have to wear a dressing on the site for a few hours afterward and follow special instructions on how to eat and care for the procedure site.
- Crowns or veneers. If the gummy smile is caused by shortened teeth instead of excessive gum tissue, getting dental crowns or porcelain veneers might be the best option. These appliances adjust the tooth size to make them look proportional to the gum tissue. Crowns sit on top of the affected tooth to completely cover them, while veneers are thin shells attached to the outside surface of a tooth. Both procedures are carried out under local anesthesia with or without sedation.
- Orthodontics and jaw surgery. If the excessive gum is caused by jaw protrusion, the dentist might recommend surgery to reduce jaw size or to move it to a more natural position. Orthodontic solutions like Invisalign or braces can also be used to make sure that the bite is as natural as possible. Jaw surgery is performed under general anesthesia with a short recovery period that can limit activities.
If you have a gummy smile and would like to learn more about this condition and the treatment options available, contact a qualified dentist in your area now. Schedule a consultation with them to see which treatment is the best choice for you.
About Castle Hills Dentistry:
Castle Hills Dentistry offers high-quality dental services in The Colony, measuring their success by getting 100% satisfaction among their clients. They bring affordable dental care for the whole family. Castle Hills Dentistry offers value, care, consistency, trust, and unmatched passion.
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