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.
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:
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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® 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.
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