What Causes a Gummy Smile?
A gummy smile is characterized by a smile that is filled with your gums. The proportion between your teeth and your gums can have a serious impact on the look of your smile. Too much gum tissue can be distracting and impact your entire facial aesthetic. This can have a serious impact on your self-esteem. In fact, people who have gummy smiles tend to laugh and smile less. Issues with your confidence can have an impact on your professional and personal life. However, there are several treatment options available to address the issue. Before treatment, it’s necessary to determine the cause of your gummy smile. You may wonder, what causes a gummy smile? Below you will find the causes and what you can do to improve the look of your smile.
What Causes a Gummy Smile?
A gummy smile can make you feel insecure and even smile less. This can impact your confidence and self-esteem. There are options to correct the issue. Understanding the cause is critical to improving the issue. Consider the following causes of a gummy smile.
Short Teeth:
Teeth that prematurely erupt may remain partially covered by your gums. This can make your teeth appear shorter and result in a gummy-looking smile.
Small Teeth:
The ratio between your teeth and gums can impact how gummy your smile looks. In fact, teeth that are much smaller can make your smile look gummy. Small teeth may be due to genetics or just natural wear and tear.
Jaw Overgrowth:
An overgrowth of your upper jaw area can cause bulging gums. This can result in your gums looking prominent when you smile. Upper jaw overgrowth is referred to as vertical maxillary excess.
Upper Lip Issues:
There are a couple of issues caused by your upper lip that can impact the look of your smile. A small or short upper lip can result in a gummy-looking smile. In addition, a hyperactive upper lip can also result in your gums looking much larger when you smile. A hyperactive upper lip occurs when your lip is normal length when your face is at rest. However, when you smile, the upper lip raises too high and becomes nearly invisible.
Enlarged Gums:
Sometimes the issue is the result of enlarged gums. Enlarged gums are referred to as gingival hypertrophy. The condition is characterized by gums that are long or enlarged.
Gummy Smile Correction Treatment
Due to the impact a gummy smile can have on your facial aesthetic and confidence, it’s important to address the issue. There are treatment options available that can improve the look of your smile. Gummy smile correction is a great treatment option that can leave your smile looking better than ever. This is a great option if the cause of your gummy smile is due to short teeth or overgrown gums. In other cases, alternative options are available. This includes bone surgery or a lip augmentation. A skilled dentist can determine which treatment option is right for you. The first step in moving forward with treatment is scheduling a consultation.
Laser Treatment:
Laser treatment is a common treatment option to address a gummy smile. The treatment involves the use of a soft-tissue laser. It is used to trim back your gums and leave your smile looking much better. It helps balance out the proportions between your teeth and gums. It is precise and has a fast recovery period. Patients also report minimal discomfort.
Premier Dental Aesthetics
If you are unhappy with the look of your smile, contact the team at Premier Dental Aesthetics. They are skilled in cosmetic dentistry and can help improve the look of your smile. Contact their team today to schedule an appointment to see if gummy smile correction is right for you!