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Can You Reduce a Gummy Smile Without Doing a Surgical Procedure?

asked 2 years ago by Yassamin in Canada
Latest answer by Scott Young, DDS
Question viewed 4,880 times
Tags: mouth, smile, gummy

I just recently had jaw surgery to correct my overbite. I assumed that this procedure would reduce my gummy smile. But that didn't end up happening. I want to get rid of the gumminess but don't want to go through another surgical procedure and I also don't want to pay too much for this correction.

What are my options at this point? And could veneers be a possible option for me. Should I talk to my Orthodontist surgeon or my orthodontist about it?

13 answers to Can You Reduce a Gummy Smile Without Doing a Surgical Procedure?

+2

Upper lip lengthening

Although this is a surgical procedure, you can do a lip lengthening procedure on the inside of your upper lip under local anesthetic like a dental procedure. There are a number of types of surgeries from release or elongation of the frenulum, W-plasty, V-Y advancement, muscle release, etc. that your surgeon can explain to you and what they would do to help the gummy smile.
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

How To Correct My "Gummy" Smile

The best way to reduce a gummy smile would be with laser removal of the excess gum tissue. In addition, you could have some Botox placed under the nose around the muscles that raise the upper lip to help keep your lip from raising as far when you smile. Good luck.
Scott Young, DDS

Houston Cosmetic Dentist

www.woodlandsdentistry.com

+1

Gummy Smiles can be Treated for the Mouth

Find a dentist in your area who can do Botox. The cost is minimal and the result is GREAT when you have Botox put where the lift miscles for your smile are located by your nose. Continuing to have it done will help with the lift of your smile, look natural and can give you some relief immediately. Good luck!
Wendy S. Spektor, DDS

Bellevue Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Gummy Smile

I am a "laser dentist" using the Biolase laser. Let me set the record straight here that it has its limitations. It is good for maybe raising the gum line 2 millimeters not much more. For more result you should have conventions esthetic crown lengthening which is a very minimally invasive surgery. You have to be sure that your teeth are able to have crown lengthening and how much. This depends on your crowns and your roots and can be determined by exam... more
Lawrence Singer, DMD

Washington Cosmetic Dentist
+1

How to Reduce a Gummy Smile

This is a very common complaint with women who like their teeth and are unhappy with their smile because too much of the gum shows when they smile. A very quick and non invasive approach to this problem, is to use a laser to conture the gum line and reduce the length of the gum, This will make the teeth look much longer and a proportionate amount of gum line will be visible at the top of the tooth, You can always opt forTheraputic Botox which will, in essence, show... more
George Koutsoukos, DDS

Valencia Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Gum Lift

A Gum Lift or Esthetic Crown Lengthening can be performed in a single visit. There are 2 ways it can be accomplished. One is surgical by a periodontist and the other is with a laser. Most dentists have a diode or CO2 laser in the office that can prvide a great result in as little as 20 minutes depepnding on the number of teeth needed to lift the gum. It is basically pain free and the results are fantastic.
Keith Blankenship, DDS

Jacksonville Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Botox or laser gum recontouring are great for this

If I were you I would try to Botox first to see if you even like the look of a lower lip. It only lasts 6 months and it will give you an idea of how you look. If you have small teeth with a lot of gum showing you may consider doing the laser gum recontouring to get rid of some of the gumline..It works great and really improves the look. It may not be perfect but its a nice alternative to severe maxillae surgery. Dr Thomas
Michael J. Thomas, DDS

Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Yes, laser works miracles!

For those patients that are unhappy with their "gummy" smile, i would recommend seeing a good laser dentist and have him perform the procedure with a laser. Laser is applied to the areas of the gum line that need recontouring.  Laser dentistry is less invasive, no stitches, hardly any bleeding, no needles and with a fraction of the pain of traditional surgery....no..i am not a laser dentist, but i have seen what wonderful things lasers can do for patients!  Hope this helps! more
Robert Fields, DDS

Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Gummy smiles usually need surgery of some kind

Depending on how severe the gummy smile is, surgery may be the only option. If that was a desire from the first surgery, it should have been clearly stated, as surgery for an overbite normally has zero effect on a gummy smile. It is possible that the surgeon's only goal was the overbite. If the gummy smile is extreme, Botox will have very little effect. SOME, but perhaps not as much as desired. Lip tacking or lip lengthening surgeries are moderately successful, as quite often the... more
Lance Timmerman, DMD

Seattle Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Three options for improving gummy smile

1.  You have already heard the surgery option (this surgery will give you definite dramatic results -- and will fix the problem).  2.  I like the Botox option.  If you're willing to maintain the Botox (a few visits per year), this is a great way to treat the gummy smile.  It won't change your appearance at all - it just won't let your smile lift up so high.  3.  Another option would be to have your cosmetic dentist do a little laser recontouring...dependin more
Susan Goode Estep, DMD

Atlanta Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Correction of the Gummy Smile

2 points: i find it hard to believe that your Oral Maxillofacial surgeon knew about your excess maxillary height (Gummy Smile) and did not correct it when he corrected your over bite. A lot of people have more than one issue addressed during such procedures. I do agree with Dr. Oppenheim, depending on your incisor show smile, a a LOT of gummy smiles can be corrected perfectly and naturally with Botox applied to the muscles near the sides of the nose which pull the central lip upwards. I... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Vertical Maxillary Excess can be corrected long term

Hi there- The problem you describe, in which you show too much gum when smiling, is called vertical maxillary excess, and can be effectively corrected for a beautiful long term result. I would talk to my surgeon about it if I were you. The problem with non-surgical options like Botox for problems in the lower face is that the result (because it depends on muscular paralysis) is often strange looking or unnatural. Better to have a lovely smile. Talk to your surgeon.
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox

   Botox can be used quite successfully to correct the gummy smile or gingival smile for those more formally inclined. This is done my non-surgically elongating the upper lip. Your  physician can place a few units of Botox into the upper nasofacial groove, just lateral to where the nose flares out.      This procedure should only be attempted by experienced injectors, however. If not done properly, you might be left with an asymmetric smile, the Dick... more
Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD

Virginia Beach Dermatologist

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