How can I improve my smile/the amount my teeth show? (Photos)

Question

I have had braces but teeth barely show and my smile is crooked. If I raise my nose, my teeth will show. Will a lip lift or lip fillers help?

Farhad Rafizadeh, MD · Answer

I would need to see a picture of you with you mouth slightly open without smiling. If your upper teeth are covered by your lip you would be candidate for a lip lift. You seem to be trying to have a forced smile to show teeth. This means that your upper lip is most likely covering your upper teeth when the mouth is open in a relaxed position. The lip lift can lower the base of your nose and give the nose a more lifted look. It will also enhance the vermilion of the upper lip. Please send me those pictures or schedule a face time through my office. fillers will not increase your teeth show. They might even cover more teeth.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

You are an excellent candidate for a lip lift.  A lip lift does 4 things: shortens the distance between your nose and upper lip, increases the mucosa of the upper lip, increases the incisor show and pulls up the corners.  Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  Dermal fillers will not achieve your goals because as they make the lip bigger this will cover your teeth more.  The only way to increase tooth show while narrowing the distance from your nose to lip would be a lift.

Gary Linkov, MD · Answer

There are surgical and non-surgical approaches to lip augmentation. Non-surgical approaches include botox (slight lift, reducing gum show) and filler (volume restoration). Surgically, you can have two separate incisions under the nose (italian), one incision under the nose (bull horn), one incision at the red/white upper lip junction (gull wing) or two separate incision at the corners, or a combination, depending on your desired look and anatomy. My preferred surgical technique is called the Elelyft, which is a version of the bullhorn approach. 
The ideal candidate for the Elelyft, or upper lip lift, is someone with a philtral length of 15mm or longer, no upper dental show, and/or a thin upper lip. The nasal base to mouth width ratio needs to be taken into consideration to avoid leaving the lip corners down. 
In your situation, additional angles would be needed to provide a full assessment, along with an accurate philtrum measurement. In general, lip fillers or a lip lift will be options for you.
Gary Linkov, MD
Lip Specialist
Manhattan

Stephen M. Davis, MD, FACS · Answer

Thanks for writing,If you want more show you will need to have a lip shortening procedure. You have to be careful that too much is not removed, then you would get a gummy smile which looks very bad. Find Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who can help you understand your options. Good luckStephen M. Davis, MD, FACS
Certified: American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Member: American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Member: RealSelf Hall of Fame

How can I improve my smile/the amount my teeth show? (Photos)

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