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An excess gingival display, or as it is more commonly known ‘gummy smile’, is a condition where too much of the pinkish gum tissue is visible when a person speaks or smiles. Figures show that approximately 7% of men and 14% of women suffer from the condition when smiling fully. Excess gingival display is most often associated with a short upper lip, an enlarged upper jaw, short upper front teeth or an increased forward position of the front teeth. It can also be attribute to an unusually large tooth or lip length.
Several treatment s are available for gummy smiles. It can be corrected by orthodontic treatment, jaw surgery, periodontal surgery or a combination of all three of these procedures. Usually lasting from one to three years, orthodontic appliance treatment depends on the severity of the problem, the growth of the patients face and the cooperation of the patient. The custom made appliances which are usually constructed form metal, ceramic or plastic can be either removable or fixed and gently apply force in a controlled way to achieve the desired effect.
Other common treatments include periodontal gingival reshaping. This process involves lengthening the crown by removing some of the excess gum tissue to make the teeth appear longer using dental lasers. Lip repositioning to make the gums appear less intrusive is also an option to treat a gummy smile. A city of London dentist will be able to advise you on the best way forward to give you the smile you have always wanted.