All-on-4 Dental Implants for a gummy smile: can I straighten my teeth on to my own gum? Would shaving my gum help? (Photo)

Question

I also need a sinus lift and bone graft on the rifght side as I wear a half denture and my back gum has receded.

Lance Timmerman, DMD, MAGD · Answer

A common step with All on Four is to reduce bone levels to hide what is called a "transition line".  If this step is skipped, then when smiling, others can see where the restoration ends and the gum tissues begin. While this may seem extreme, this creates a situation that is more hygienic and easier to maintain and in most cases is more esthetic.

Sara Amini, DDS · Answer

Hi, All on 4 implants indicated when patients do not have any teeth, or need to remove all teeth clinically. 
During the surgery we remove a few millimetre of the bone from surface to factor in bone loss after teeth removal. Please bear in mind if your teeth are not hopeless, there are minor surgeries and procedures to help with a gummy smile such as shaving gum ( gingivectomy) , rather than removing your teeth.
If you do not have enough bone at the back teeth, sinus lift is required to place implants.
Dr Sara Amini, City of London

Kerem Turgut Atasoy, DDS, PhD · Answer

One option is bone reduction and All-on-4. If your bone anatomy is available for an All-on-4,the finishing margins of prosthesis should be hidden under your lips. So, in this circumstance, bone reduction is a necessity. 
Other option is conventional implant treatment which consists of sinus lifting, placement of 6 or 8 implants per jaw but this will not eliminate your gummy smile appearance. 3-D CT measurement gives us the chance to evaluate which method is better and minimal invasive for you

Ajay Kashi, DDS · Answer

If you are willing to consult with multiple specialists and work on your teeth over a timeline, you might not need All-on-4 implants. Your concerns about the gummy smile, straightening of the teeth etc can all be addressed without implants in many cases. The first thing I would do is to go in for a consultation to determine what your issues are from not only your perspective but also from a clinical aspect and radiographic (X-ray) evaluation.

Eric Johnson, DMD · Answer

For the All-on-4 procedure, we grind away a few millimeters of bone which allows for correction or improvement of a gummy Smile. Just make sure you mention this specifically at your consult, since they need to check the amount of bone. Shaving your gums alone for cosmetic reasons, would make your teeth look too long in my opinion.

All-on-4 Dental Implants for a gummy smile: can I straighten my teeth on to my own gum? Would shaving my gum help? (Photo)

Answers (9)

Answer: Go for a consult first

Answer: Go for a consult first

Answer: Yes

Answer: Yes

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Everything you need to know about All-on-4 Dental Implants

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All-on-4 Dental Implants for a gummy smile: can I straighten my teeth on to my own gum? Would shaving my gum help? (Photo)

Answers (9)

Answer: Go for a consult first

Answer: Go for a consult first

Answer: Yes

Answer: Yes

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about All-on-4 Dental Implants

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.