Celebrating 20 Years of Training in Botox®, Aesthetic Medicine
and Medical Weight Management

Start Training Now
IAPAM Logo
Aesthetic Medicine Symposium - November 14-16 in Scottsdale, AZ! Register Now

Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence in Botox®, Aesthetic Medicine & Medical Weight Management Training & Certification

IAPAM Logo
Aesthetic Medicine Symposium — Nov 14–16, Scottsdale, AZ   Register Now →
Home »Botox® Library » Gummy Smile Botox®: a Treatment Option

Gummy Smile Botox®: a Treatment Option

A gummy smile occurs when a considerable amount of gum tissue shows above the top teeth when smiling. Simply put, the proportions of the teeth, gum tissues, and upper jaw are not balanced.

For many individuals, gummy smiles can be a cause of embarrassment or insecurity. The excessive gingival display can result from a host of issues with your mouth, such as a jaw development problem, incorrect bite, and hyperactive or overly short upper lip.

Gummy Smile Botox

What Causes a Gummy Smile?

So, what causes a gummy smile? A gummy smile is multifactorial in etiology, and more than one factor can present simultaneously. The most common causes include the following:

  • Abnormal or partial dental eruption where teeth appear short and are partially covered by gum tissue.
  • Genetics that are causing the teeth to be small compared to the gums.
  • The upper lip is too short to cover the gums.
  • An upper lip with normal length when the face is resting, but that exposes a lot of gum tissue when smiling as it lifts too high.
  • Gums that are overly long or enlarged (gingival hypertrophy).
  • An overgrowth of the upper jaw makes gums bulge out (maxillary excess).

Thinking about adding Botox to your skill set? The IAPAM Botox training and certification course, led by board-certified dermatologists, is designed for medical professionals like you.

Register Now
AESTHETIC MEDICINE SYMPOSIUM | November 14-16, 2026 | Scottsdale, Arizona
Learn to Build a Profitable Practice in just 3-days!

Includes hands-on Botox® injection training led by board-certified dermatologists on live models in a clean clinic setting

Up To 33.5 CMES | 3-Day Hands-On | Save up to $3,605 with IAPAM Membership
“Very educational, love the hands-on and plenty of resources and materials.” — B. Chang, DO
AESTHETIC MEDICINE SYMPOSIUM | November 14-16, 2026 | Scottsdale, Arizona
Learn to start a profitable practice in just 3-days!
Up to 33.5 CMEs | 3-Day Hands-On | Save up to $3,605 with IAPAM Membership!
“Very educational, love the hands-on and plenty of resources and materials.” — B. Chang, DO
Register Now

Gummy Smile Botox® Injection Points

In most cases, you need one or two units of Botox® to fix a gummy smile.

Botox® is injected in the area between your upper lip and nose to temporarily freeze the muscles that contract or elevate when you smile, which allows you to smile without showing your gums.

Botox® Gummy Smile Before and After

Botox® is considered one of the non-surgical alternatives to reduce gummy smile caused by the hyperactivity of the levator labii superioris muscle.

In a pioneering study, Botox® injections to treat gummy smiles showed promising results, as it did not require either surgery or anesthesia. Instead, a high cosmetic effect was achieved by reducing the amount of gum exposure by inhibiting and partially blocking by introducing Botox® into the projection area of the following muscles—the levator labii superioris and the zygomatic muscle.

The treatment is quick, minimally invasive, and can last for several months, offering patients a temporary yet effective solution for a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing smile. Additionally, Botox® allows for easy adjustments during follow-up treatments to achieve the desired level of gum reduction.

Related Articles

Hands-On Aesthetic Medicine Training

Hands-On BOTOX® Training in Scottsdale, Arizona

Gain the confidence to start seeing patients right away.

September 18–21, 2026 Scottsdale, Arizona AMA PRA Category 1 CME

Attend IAPAM’s comprehensive AMA PRA Category 1 CME BOTOX® training weekend and learn the clinical and business foundations for aesthetic practice growth.

✓Hands-on BOTOX® injection training in a clean, multi-million-dollar medspa—not a hotel.
✓Live models and product are provided so you can focus on learning with expert instructors.
✓Build foundations in five non-invasive treatments, with an optional GLP-1 weight-management business add-on.
Explore Botox Training Options →
Hands-on Botox training with a live model in Scottsdale

Click the image to explore upcoming BOTOX® training.

Aesthetic Medicine + GLP-1 Training

Secure your seat at 50% off

Terms and conditions apply. Offer expires September 30.