Periodontal Procedures
Gummy Smiles
Some patients smile and show an excessive amount of gum tissue. This is called a gummy smile and may be due to one more of the following problems:
- Gum irritation and overgrowth from braces. This is more likely to happen if the teeth appear short before the braces are placed on the teeth. This problem results not from the quality of the orthodontic care, but is a result of the pre-treatment gum and bone thickness.
- Altered passive eruption. The gum and bone normally recede as a part of the normal eruption of the teeth. When this normal recession doesn't occur, and it may in some cases be genetic, the gums cover too much of the teeth and make them appear "too short". The teeth are usually not "too short". They are usually normally sized but are buried under the gum and bone.
- If there are habits such as clenching or grinding (bruxism), excessive wear can produce teeth that now appear too short as they wear down. The problem is one that may be corrected with dental restorations such as crowns, onlays or veneers.
- Skeletal developmental problems.
Before treatment it is critical to properly evaluate the problem and get an accurate diagnosis. Some gummy smiles can be corrected with a tooth elongation surgery to remove excess gum and bone. If, however, the excess gum display is compounded by a hyper-mobile lip, or is due to a skeletal problem called “maxillary vertical excess”, then tooth elongation alone may be insufficient to properly treat the gummy smile.
Gummy Smile Case Study: Erin
When Erin came into the practice she was ready to change her smile. She wanted whiter, larger and more attractive teeth and wanted to show less gum.
Cosmetic gum surgery reduced the amount of gum that shows. Her restorative dentist then placed porcelain veneers. Erin now loves her smile. Life is just too short not to smile.
Erin Before Treatment
Erin After Treatment
Gummy Smile Case Study: Becky
Becky presented to the office unhappy with her gummy smile and the look of her teeth. She reported that every time she brushed her teeth there was profuse bleeding.
Becky Before Treatment
You can see the inflamed tissues and the excessive amount of gum tissue in the first picture.
Becky During Treatment
Her treatment plan included crown elongation surgery and porcelain crowns and veneers. This photo was taken several weeks after the tooth elongation procedure.
Read more about crown elongation surgery.
Becky After Treatment
This is the final photo showing her smile after all the work has been completed. Becky is thrilled with the result, and her gums are now healthy and no longer bleed.