Slanted smile, gum contouring? My smile is uneven and I’ve gone through braces multiple times. Would gun contouring help?

Question

Ira Shapira, DDS · Answer

You have a narrow maxilla especially on your right side.  Three dimensional expansion can correct the the size and shape of the maxilla.
If you decide to surgically correct you may require some bone recontouring as well.  Your teeth will still be canted unless crowns or veneers are done with surgery.  This cant would improve (possibly dramatically) with the DNA Appliance.
Combining Cranio work  with a neuromuscular orthotic may allow correction of the maxillary cant by mobilizing maxilla and resetttng maxillary position.
It is possible to combine approaches, discuss all of these and understand implications before proceeding.  Minimal gingival recontouring will give some improvment and is straight forward.

Neal Nealis, DDS (retired) · Answer

Hi Bricali88, You have an interesting question. Gum contouring will be of limited benefit because even though you reduce the amount of pink visible on the left side to match the right side, you will be increasing the amount of tooth exposed; so you will be increasing the amount of white that is visible. You want to have symmetrical pink (gums) and white (teeth). The only way to get the smile is to, unfortunately, redo the orthodontics by someone who understands your problem. Your problem is that you damaged the growth plate on one side of the jaw as a child so that your bone did not grow evenly. This has created your crooked smile. The solution for this is to intrude the teeth on the upper left and lower right while extruding the opposing teeth. Intruding means pushing the teeth into the bone. This is accomplished by using a combination of Invisalign aligners and tiny titanium implants which are inserted into the bone high above the teeth and then used to anchor rubber bands which stretch over the aligners and provide the intrusive forces. There is a well know orthodontist in Vancouver, Canada who has written a book on how this is done. I would suggest either seeing her in Vancouver or finding a dentist like myself who has read her book and heard her speak. Do you live anywhere near Chicago?

Thomas Connelly, DDS - Account Suspended · Answer

It is possible to improve your smile with gum contouring. In-person exam is recommended for evaluation and treatment options. Seek an experienced cosmetic dentist who has great photos and reviews.

Slanted smile, gum contouring? My smile is uneven and I’ve gone through braces multiple times. Would gun contouring help?

Answers (3)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Gum Lift

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

Slanted smile, gum contouring? My smile is uneven and I’ve gone through braces multiple times. Would gun contouring help?

Answers (3)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Gum Lift

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