Dental health is one of the essential things in life for a person who wants to maintain healthy teeth, gums, and mouth. Good dental health will also improve the way a person looks and their overall quality of life. Regular pursuit of excellent dental services will also prevent many dental issues from affecting the quality of life as well as keep you away from medical complications.

Encino Dentist is your full-service general and cosmetic dental clinic whose commitment is to provide its clients with high quality and authentic dental treatment that promotes healthy teeth and a perfect smile. Among the many services we provide is gummy smile treatment. 

What is a Gummy Smile?

Also referred to as excessive gingival display, a gummy smile is a type of smile that showcases an excess amount of gum under a person's upper lip. A gummy smile is a prevalent unattractive clinical condition that could change the way a person looks and feels about themselves. A person with a gummy smile can feel that the look of their upper teeth is dominated by the excess gum tissue below their upper lips. They also have upper teeth that appear shorter when matched with the amount of gum muscle that is displayed when they smile.

The main problem a lot of people with a gummy smile have is in the look and feel of their smile. We live in a world where first impressions are taken more seriously than anything else, and a person's first impression is mainly dependent on their smile. A smile is enough to either put off or welcome a person. While some smiles can be made better with clean teeth and some makeup, some need a form of treatment by professional dentists for them to be perfect.

Some conditions, such as gummy smiles can easily prevent a person from giving out a perfect smile. The good news is, the condition can be treated by various treatment routines.

Causes of Gummy Smile

There are several causes of excessive gingival display:

  • An extreme display of the gum muscle can happen on a person’s upper jaw if there is an unusual upsurge of the upper teeth. This explains why teeth that are covered by the too much gum tissue are usually shorter in appearance when compared to the rest of the teeth, even if they are actually of the right length

  • A gummy smile could also happen if the muscles that control the motion of a person’s upper lip become hyperactive. The hyperactivity will cause the upper lip to go abnormally higher when they smile. When this happens, much of your gum skin will be exposed, giving you a gummy smile.

  • A gummy smile could also result from the way a person's upper jaw bone developed. If, for instance, your upper jaw protruded excessively during its growth and development, you may experience an excessive gingival display when you smile.

  • A gummy smile can also happen if you have excess tissue under your upper lips, which overlaps on your teeth.

There are so many other reasons why a person could have an excessive gingival display, including the form of their lips, their facial muscles, and also the size of their teeth. The good thing is that gummy smile is actually not a disease and should therefore not worry you. Again, the condition can be fixed.

Treatment for Gummy Smile

If not treated, a gummy smile will negatively affect the aesthetics of your smile as well as your overall appearance. Fortunately, there is a cure for this condition, and several dental treatments are available to resolve the problem once and for good. To get treated, visit your dentist and have a proper examination, for confirmation of the condition and to discuss treatment options.

At the dentist's office, you will have your mouth, gum, and teeth examined. This helps your dentist to establish the level of your gummy smile and possible causes.  The examination, in this case, can be done through digital and/or conventional impressions on your gums and teeth. You could also require X-ray imaging to examine the roots of your teeth and jawbone carefully.

The findings of the examination will be used to determine the best treatment option for your condition. For this reason, you may be referred to a professional, such as an oral surgeon, orthodontist, or a periodontist.

Several treatment options could be recommended for you, including:

  • One-day laser treatment if your case is minor

    This is the fastest, precise, and painless treatment for a gummy smile. Your dentist will numb your gum muscle, then use a laser to get rid of the excess gum muscle on the affected part. The tissue that is left is then reshaped to create balance and fix the problem.

  • Surgical repositioning of your lip

    This treatment will be most suitable if the problem is as a result of an overactive or short upper lip. In this case, surgery will be carried out on the affected elevator muscle of the mouth to prevent the lip from lifting as high as it does whenever you smile. This treatment is, however, very costly and can be a little uncomfortable.

  • Use of braces

    Invisalign or braces can be used to move the teeth into the most suitable position. This will only be useful if the positioning of the jaw and teeth are what are making your gum to stick out. Braces will bring your teeth and jaw in alignment, and this could reduce the amount of gum showing when you smile.

  • Jaw surgery

    Jaw surgery also referred to as orthognathic surgery, can only be used in extreme cases. The treatment is used when the jaw is protruding and/or is overdeveloped. In that case, your dentist will recommend oral or maxillofacial surgery to re-contour the affected jaw, to make it more in proportion to the lower one. After the surgery, the jaw is then repositioned to its right place.

  • Botox

    Botox for gummy smile treatment involves an injection of the upper lip’s muscles with botulinum toxin which paralyzes the protruding muscle temporarily so that it doesn't contract and stick out when you smile. This is a very useful form of treatment if the gummy smile is caused by the upper lip. The problem is that the treatment is only temporary and can go for as far as four months.

Dental Laser Treatment

The most effective and popular of these treatments is dental laser treatment. The dental laser treatment process is designed to help reshape the jaw bone on the affected gum to give you back your smile.

The treatment is done by a professional dentist, who directs an intense ray of laser treatment towards the affected gum tissue. The best part is that laser treatment does not vibrate and is not hot when passed over the excess gum tissue, making this one of the most comfortable treatments you will go through. Your dentist will also spray some water gently on the affected gum to make it steady and smooth throughout the treatment.

Several advantages come with this form of treatment:

  • Dental laser Treatment is loved by many because it is very comfortable. This makes it the most suitable treatment for all patients, including young ones.

  • The other advantage is that it is a same-day procedure, and a person recovers from the treatment very fast. When likened to other treatments, laser treatment is much faster and the best option available to do away with the excess gum tissue.

  • The procedure is done through the use of a very advanced technology, which automatically seals up all the blood vessels, leaving you with less blood and swelling during and after the treatment.

For these reasons, dental laser treatment will be recommended to patients who are hesitant about any form of treatment and those who are specifically afraid of dental processes. The results are incredible; in just one day, you will be able to experience the effects and the benefits of the treatment. In no time, patients can recover their original and attractive smile.

However, to enjoy the benefits of this procedure, you need to work with a competent cosmetic dentist. The right dentist will be able to provide a treatment solution that will make your teeth appear longer, get rid of the excess tissue on your gum, and give you a more proportioned and beautiful gum line.

What are the Risks?

The only problem that has been reported with the use of dental laser treatment is the possibility of experiencing excessive swelling or bleeding. This is very rare though because the treatment makes use of the most advanced technology which eliminates the likelihood of excessive bleeding and swelling. However, one can never be so sure to rule out the possibility of at least one patient experiencing such issues.

Other than this, some patients may experience allergic reactions to anesthesia.

Find an Encino Dentist Near Me

A smile is the most important thing you have if you want to create lasting impressions wherever you go. Therefore, if you have a gummy smile that is making it difficult for you to smile with ease; you need immediate treatment. The Encino Dentist can help you determine the cause and the best treatment option for your condition. Call our Encino dentist at 818-650-0429 if you are seeking a Gummy Smile Treatment in Encino.