How can I show more of my upper teeth when I smile? (Photos)

Hello!

That’s a very thoughtful question — and one I see quite often. The amount of upper tooth show when smiling is influenced by several factors, including the length and mobility of the upper lip, the shape and support of the teeth, and even how the muscles around your mouth function.

In your case, since your upper lip doesn’t lift much when you smile, the issue is likely related to lip mobility or support rather than your teeth themselves. A subnasal lip lift can indeed help in some cases by shortening the distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip, creating more visible tooth show and a balanced smile. However, this is a surgical procedure and works best for patients with a longer upper lip or those seeking a permanent change in lip position.

If you’d prefer a less invasive approach first, lip fillers can be used strategically to add subtle structure and roll the upper lip outward slightly, enhancing tooth show without surgery. Botox can also help in some cases by relaxing certain muscles that restrict the natural lift of your smile, though this effect is temporary.

Before deciding, I’d recommend evaluating factors such as your lip length, smile dynamics, and facial balance. Sometimes a combination of minor filler adjustments and smile retraining (working with how you activate your smile muscles) can achieve a noticeable improvement.

We do a lot of lip lifts. They are done when you want to have a shorter lip, especially at rest. The best way to tell the value is to look at how many teeth show with your mouth slightly open but at rest (like you are sleeping). This is a quick office procedure.