subject: How To Treat Gummy Smiles [print this page] When you think of a 'perfect smile' what do you think of? Visions of healthy, long, pearly white teeth fill your head, right?
But what if you have nice white teeth but short ones? The dazzling effect is not exactly the same, is it?
Instead, what people will most likely focus on is how small your teeth are. This is something that affects MANY people and its called having a 'gummy smile' in the dental profession. Even if your teeth are not really that short but your gums are a bit 'excessive' the effect is more or less the same (i.e., your teeth will look small).
People may be born with gummy smiles but that does not mean you need to live with them. In fact, there are quite a few dental procedures that can help you show less gums - and more teeth - when you smile!
Gum Re-Contouring Treatments
There are actually a few reasons for having a gummy smile and the best treatment to use is the one that directly addresses the cause of the problem.
Gummy Smiles Due to Excessive Gum Structure
If your gums seem 'overgrown' to the point that they are covering your natural teeth, then gingivectomy is the solution for you. This procedure calls for cauterizing or burning away excess gum tissue. It may sound dreadful but this is actually not a very invasive procedure and most patients undergo quick recoveries.
Gummy Smiles Due to a High Lip Line
If you have a high lip line, smiling exposes your gums right away. To remedy this situation you can undergo hypermobile lip surgery.
The name of the treatment may be a tad high falutin but it's actually an easy procedure that calls for the re-attachment of the gum tissue underneath the lip at a position that is closer to the teeth. This limits the movement of the lips high above the gums when you smile.
Gummy Smiles Due to Naturally-Short Teeth
If your teeth are naturally short, then flap surgery is the solution recommended. With this treatment, the underlying bone is exposed and a portion of it is removed. This treatment is the most major amongst the solutions for gummy smiles but those who suffer from naturally short teeth or irregular bone shapes find this a treatment worth undergoing.
Needless to say, it's extremely important that you let a good dental surgeon handle these procedures. In the hands of the right dental profession, perfect smiles are not far behind.
