Cosmetic Dentistry Can Eliminate Gummy or Toothy Smiles
Dental Articles March 23rd. 2007, 8:26pmMarch 23, 2007, Palm Beach and Broward County, Fla. – Your smile may give the impression that you have more or less gums than the average person. In reality, those with “long-tooth” or “gummy” smiles may have no more or less gum tissue than anyone else.
GUMMY SMILES
Healthy gums should fit snugly against your teeth, but an uneven gum line can make your teeth look too small, short, or square.
Problems related to aging and/or periodontal disease often lead to a gummy smile. These may include:
- Small crown length
- An uneven gum line
- Missing teeth
- Poor oral hygiene
- Thin gums
- Teeth grinding
- Darkened areas between implants, crowns, bridges or your original teeth
TREATMENTS FOR GUMMY SMILES
Fortunately, the cosmetic dentists at Smile South Florida can make those pink gums disappear and replace them with a row of pearly whites. Advances in cosmetic dentistry, can restore symmetry and proportion to your smile using a variety of techniques.
“We frequently use porcelain veneers, resin bonding and crowns to improve the proportion of gums to teeth, “said Dr. Charles Nottingham, Smile South Florida cosmetic dentist. “We work with the patient to develop an overall strategy that fits their vision and budget.”
GUM REMODELING
Cosmetic gum surgery also is another option for some patients. “Gum remodeling requires removal of excess tissue to expose more of your teeth,” said Dr. Richard Morrow, Smile South Florida periodontist.
LONG-TOOTH SMILES
Long-tooth smiles are the opposite of gummy smiles. They are the result of gum recession that exposes more of your teeth, making them look longer than normal. Gum recession also exposes the sensitive root surface, causing pain when you imbibe hot or cold foods and drinks.
To shorten the appearance of your teeth, a cosmetic dentist will remove tissue from the roof of your mouth and grafts it to the gum line. This new tissue reinforces thin gums or fills in areas where the gum has receded.
POST-TREATMENT CARE
Proper oral hygiene is a vital part of any dental-health regime. Brush, floss and rinse regularly and properly and remember to visit your dentist for follow-up care.
LEARN MORE
Call Smile South Florida today or email us to schedule an appointment and learn more about cosmetic dentistry.
June 18th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
[...] She is believed to have gotten veneers and a surgery to elongate the teeth and fix the “gummy smile” [...]
August 12th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
One treatment you don’t mention here is high lip line lowering. I’ve heard of this being performed by a Los Angeles cosmetic dentist, but there may be other dental professionals performing this method as well. Basically, the teeth and gums are not altered, but the upper lip is subtly changed so that it will not lift as high when a person smiles, thus covering more of the upper gum that was being exposed. I think this is a pretty innovative approach to the gummy smile problem, and I encourage anyone looking for a treatment solution to put this one on their list.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:07 pm
In response to the high lip line procedure, most cosmetic dental specialists/periodontists would not reccommend this unless the gummy smile is caused from severe cases of a “hyper-mobile” lip which extends up too far when smiling.
I have seen several before-and-after photos with this lip line procedure and I do not think that the results are as dramatic or aesthetically pleasing as the crown lenthening procedure.
Also, in most cases it is most beneficial for sound periodontal health and aesthetics to remove the excess gum tissue that is covering the teeth. Sound periodontal wellbeing provides the structure and framework for lasting cosmetic dental work and overall dental health.
March 11th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
[...] She is believed to have gotten veneers and a surgery to elongate the teeth and fix the “gummy smile” [...]