Why Is Gummy Smile Surgery Performed?

Gummy Smile surgery, also known as aesthetic crown lengthening, is primarily done to enhance a person’s appearance, since their appearance is an essential thing for them. The procedure is applied to decrease the visibility of the gum tissue that is a smiling person, with the effect of the latter smiling, representing a more beautiful smile. In addition to this, the procedure may have a positive effect on the teeth by giving them a more elongated and healthy appearance.

What Is A Gummy Smile?

A gummy smile is the term that dentists use for a smile where most of the gums are seen when a person smiles. It might be that, apart from the “gummy” teeth most people have, they can experience the teeth being small or not meeting the size of the gum. The condition is so severe that the patient may feel that they are not in the right place when they perform their smile-tooth relationship. Not only does the smile remain unpleasant, and the individual is not satisfied with himself or herself, but the problem might be more tangible, in that the teeth might look crooked or may not even be square-sided. This is an issue that is viewed as easily treatable and can be managed by means of certain cosmetic dentistry procedures, which type of methods are in a range as advanced laser equipment, one-step reshaping-correction, invisible braces, or a combination of them.

Gummy smiles are often attributed to excessive gum growth or the malpositioning of the teeth relative to the gum line. Gummy smiles can be corrected through a variety of cosmetic dental procedures, including gum contouring or recontouring, orthodontics, or a combination of the two. A talk with your dentist will more fully ascertain what procedure you should undergo. An evaluation by a professional is also needed to determine the proper treatment for your situation.

Gummy Smile Causes, Treatment, and Benefits

In addition to the matter of gum overgrowth, a gummy smile may also result from more functional issues, like an uneven gum line, excessively grown gum tissue, and a misaligned bite. At these times, reshaping the gum area will not only yield a great smile but also it will make the operation of teeth and gums more efficient and their health rather good. Both the cause and the treatment should be identified and agreed upon with the dentist or periodontist. The procedure does not involve the tooth itself, only the region around it, but it is a little more extensive on the gum side due to gum tissue removal. The entire procedure can be done under local anesthesia. Besides, if the patient is too anxious, they can receive some medications to calm them, and all this is performed in one or more sessions, all of which depend on the structural situation that requires it to be performed.

What Are the Causes of a Gummy Smile?

A gummy smile is defined by the overexposure of gum tissue while smiling and can be a result of several factors, namely:

• Short upper lip: A short upper lip can cause a greater display of the gum tissue when smiling.
• Overgrown gum tissue: More than enough gum tissue can cause a gummy smile.
• Misaligned teeth: If teeth are misaligned or not properly positioned, they may be hidden under a lot of gum tissue. This makes the teeth look shorter and causes a gummy smile.
• High smile line: A high smile line is connected with the height of the gum line at the time of smiling. In case the level is too high, there might be a gummy smile.
• Jaw misalignment: A jaw that is misaligned could cause a crooked gum line, thus resulting in a gummy smile.
• Genetics: There are some people who have the genetic predisposition to the fact that they will have more gum tissue and naturally get a gummy smile.
• Medications: Some medications, such as phenytoin (Dilantin) can lead to gum overgrowth, causing a gummy smile.

The main point that should not be neglected in this case is that the reasons stated above can be different for people from person to person, and only a dentist can diagnose the issue after a thorough examination.

What Does a Procedure of Crown Lengthening Mean?

A crown lengthening is a surgical procedure that will be carried out by a periodontist (the gum specialist) or an oral surgeon, who will reshape the gum tissue and its surroundings and, in some cases, even the bone structure around the tooth. The sole purpose of the whole process is to uncover a greater part of the tooth structure, thereby making it possible to use crowns or any other restorative dental work. Gummy smile procedure implies that the periodontist will remove excessive gum tissue and sometimes a little bone for the desired tooth exposure. The cuts are then stitched with sutures, and the gums will heal in a matter of weeks. The result is a more attractive smile with a longer tooth being shown.

Crown lengthening can thus contribute to the overall health of the gums by getting rid of the infected or decayed gum tissue and can be performed either as a sole intervention or in combination with other dental procedures like a root canal or a dental crown. It is essential to go over the potential benefits and risks of crown lengthening with a dentist or periodontist before one undergoes the surgery.

How To Fix a Gummy Smile

Several options are available, which can be the best way to provide the required treatment for fixing a gummy smile in the person, depending on the reason and the severity of the problem. Below are some ways that are commonly used for the treatment of a gummy smile:

• Gum contouring or recontouring: This treatment is done by removing the excess gum tissue so that more of the teeth can be exposed to acquire a properly balanced and proportional smile, and can be well executed using laser technology, a minimally invasive procedure, or through traditional surgery.
• Orthodontics: Orthodontic treatment, such as braces or clear aligners, can sometimes be the best way of repositioning the teeth and correcting the gummy smile by making the gum tissue less visible.
• Lip repositioning: The procedure of lip repositioning refers to the action of diminishing the amount of the upper lip that comes out when smiling, contributing to the balanced look of the gums and teeth.
• Botox injections: The use of Botox injections can be quite beneficial in that it relaxes the lip muscles and limits the movement of the upper lip. Consequently, the amount of gum tissue visible when smiling is considerably reduced.
• Veneers or crowns: If the teeth are small or have abnormal shapes and these are the reasons for the gummy smile, then it is advisable to do the shaping of the teeth, through the appropriate coating or enveloping by the use of veneers or crowns, so that the teeth may have a better appearance and thus a balanced smile can be achieved.

It is important to know that one must contact a dental professional for treatment if the problem is not clear, or make sure the goal will be achieved. In evaluating the cause of the gummy smile, a dental professional will recommend the best treatment that can help the patient get the results they need.

Celebrities With Gummy Smiles

Numerous celebrities have gummy smiles, and some of them have even included their unique smiles as part of their overall image. Let’s take a look at gummy smile celebrities:

• Julia Roberts: Julia Roberts is one of the celebrities with the most iconic smiles, which is associated with a visible gum line. She has often been praised for her confidence and for being able to embrace her natural features.
• Nicole Kidman: The smile of Nicole Kidman is, in the same way, a smile that characterizes a pronounced gum line as per her expression. She says she has never done any smile-changing surgery, stating that it is owing to her genes, and by doing so, she has been told she looks lovely, adorable, and very confident in herself.
• Gwen Stefani: Who we all know as the superstar Gwen Stefani has a smile that is not overshadowed by the excess gum, yet she has not undergone any cosmetic procedures to change it. She has also been praised for her confidence and ability to be a real person of her kind.
• Madonna: Madonna has a unique smile that has a prominent gum line. She has never undergone any cosmetic procedures to change her smile and has embraced it as part of her overall appearance.
• Elvis Presley: He was a gummy smile person because he used to display, show it often while smiling or singing. But his performances and singing were such that people still call him an icon, even with such a smile.

These are just a few examples of gummy smile celebrities who see their unique laughter as part of their beauty (source). While some people decide to opt for plastic surgery to improve their smiles, others find confidence and beauty in their natural appearance.

FAQ: “Gummy Smile”