Excess Gingival Display Treatment
Treatment options are available to adjust the gum-to-tooth ratio where clinically appropriate.
Overview
A higher gum-to-tooth display ratio when smiling is a variation in dental anatomy. Some patients choose to discuss treatment options with their dentist.
The so-called gum-to-tooth ratio is very important to consider when working on perfecting your smile. Clinically, an excess gingival display is generally measured by the ratio of visible gum tissue to tooth crown during smiling.
Smile by Design offers treatment options to reduce excess gingival display through reshaping and contouring of gum tissue, where clinically appropriate.
What causes excess gingival display?
Exacerbated gingival display, or gingival excess is a diagnosis given to those with an excess of gum a few millimetres between the top of your teeth and the upper lip. The primary cause of an overly gummy smile is genetics, but other factors that can make gums appear bigger when smiling include but are not limited to:
- misaligned teeth
- short lips
- periodontitis (gum disease)
- protruded teeth (buck teeth)
Understanding the extent of your gummy smile is important to know as it will help determine which treatment option, if any, may be clinically appropriate for your situation.
Gummy Smile Treatment
Smile by Design provides a range of treatments for excess gingival display, which may or may not involve surgery depending on clinical assessment – though not all cases require surgery. Here’s some of the ways gummy smile can be fixed:
- BOTOX – This will relax the lip so that it doesn’t have a high pulling effect, letting the upper lip rest further over the gum tissue. Anti-wrinkle injections using botulinum toxin may be used to reduce upper lip elevation. As with all injectable procedures, risks apply — see the Risks and Considerations section below.
- Gum Contouring/Gum Leveling (also known as gum reshaping or gingival shaping) – Surgical removal of the gum tissue around the teeth so as to expose more tooth and reducing the gum to lip ratio.
- Crown Lengthening – Gum tissue is removed, the bone is modified, and the gum line is re-contoured to establish a longer crown appearance.
One of the more common gummy smile treatment options would be a gingivectomy, or gingival recontouring. Also known as a gum contouring, this procedure aims to reduce the amount of visible gum tissue when smiling. Gum contouring lengthens the look of your teeth and reduces the size of the gum that shows when you smile – to alter the gum line. Results vary between patients. Gum contouring is a relatively quick procedure. Shortly after patients may experience mild pain and discomfort during the healing process. Swelling and sensitivity tends to subside within 10 days after the treatment.
For more information about treatment options to fix a gummy smile, read through our Gummy Smiles article or bbook a no-charge initial consultation at our North Sydney or Bondi Junction clinics. Terms and conditions apply — one per patient, new patients only.
