Introduction
When you share a hearty laugh, it's not just your pearly whites that make an appearance; your pretty pink upper gums are on display as well. Even if you're exceptionally beautiful, a gummy smile can dent your appeal. So, whenever you want to burst into laughter, you find yourself worrying about your prominent and somewhat abrupt gums. You may either instinctively cover your laughter with your hand or stick to a discreet smile, unable to fully enjoy the sound of joy and the pleasures of life.
Types of Gummy Smile
A beautiful smile relies not only on the cooperation of your lips and facial muscles but also on the extent to which your gums are exposed. In conventional aesthetic dentistry, the ideal amount of gum exposure is usually less than 2mm. When your smile reveals more than 3mm of gum tissue, it adversely affects your facial aesthetics, a condition medically known as "Gummy Smile." Depending on the length of exposed gums, there are several grades of Gummy Smile:
Mild Gummy Smile
The exposed gum tissue while smiling is less than 25% of the tooth crown length.
Moderate Gummy Smile
When smiling, the gum exposure is roughly between 25% and 50% of the tooth crown length.
Severe Gummy Smile
During a smile, the gum exposure amounts to around 50% to 100% of the tooth crown length​
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Extreme Gummy Smile
A smile that reveals more than 100% of the tooth crown length.
Cause
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Causes of Gummy Smile
There are various factors contributing to a gummy smile, primarily associated with tooth structure, lip tissues, and perioral muscles:
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Delayed Eruption of Upper Anterior Teeth: Upper front teeth tend to erupt later and may encounter obstructions, resulting in excessive gum coverage and smaller tooth crowns.
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Maxillary Protrusion or Overdevelopment: Protrusion of the upper jaw or vertical overgrowth of the upper front teeth can lead to dental anomalies, including buck teeth.
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Overactive Upper Lip Muscles: Strong upper lip muscles can cause excessive contraction during smiling, pulling the upper lip upward and revealing the gums.
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Short Upper Lip Skin: Short upper lip skin, combined with upper lip retraction during a smile, leads to gum exposure.
Treatments
Botox for Correcting a Gummy Smile
In addition to orthodontic treatment and extensive orthognathic surgery, a gummy smile can be temporarily corrected with Botox injections. By relaxing the muscles of the upper lip with Botox, they are prevented from contracting excessively when you smile, effectively covering the gums. Correcting a gummy smile through Botox injections is a simple and minimally invasive procedure that doesn't entail the lengthy process of orthodontic work. It allows you to regain your confidence and fully enjoy a carefree, hearty laugh.
