CORRECTING A GUMMY SMILE

September 16, 2014

Filed under: Practice — Dr. Buck @ 12:29 am

A “gummy smile” (excessive gingival display) exposes too much gum tissue when a person smiles. Due to factors that include undersized teeth, overgrown gum tissue, an overactive elevation muscle of the upper lip, or an upper lip that joins too closely to the gum tissue, the ratio of lips, gums, and teeth is out of balance. While Botox injections may be used to treat an over-developed elevation muscle, the surgical procedure known as “myotomy” offers more permanent results. When the joint between the upper lip and the gums inside the mouth is over-developed, surgically decreasing the space between the upper lip and gum tissue reduces gum exposure. Lastly, overgrown gums can be corrected with “laser gingivectomy.”

To have an attractive smile, one needs beautiful teeth as well as pleasant-looking gums. A gummy smile does not have to ruin your smile; the right treatments can restore your smile confidence. At DISTINCTIVE SMILES OF DUBLIN, we provide dentistry utilizing modern and up-to-date procedures. We invite you to call us at 614.792.1800. When was the last time you had a professional dental checkup? We’re located at 5142 Blazer Parkway, Dublin, where we stress preventive health care – and we believe good dental health requires constant attention. Creating Healthy Beautiful Smiles.

P.S. Laser gingivectomy removes excess gum tissue and seals blood vessels so that no stitches are required.