Ideally, when you smile, you show just a couple of millimetres of gums, nicely framing your teeth, but some people show substantially more gum tissue and have what is known as a gummy smile in Oshawa. If this applies to you, you may be perfectly happy showing more gum tissue, and some people can rock this look, making it part of their personality. Others aren’t quite so comfortable and feel self-conscious when they grin.
Why Do Some People Have a Gummy Smile?
Several factors can cause a gummy smile. Sometimes it’s due to an overactive muscle in the upper lip so that when you smile, your upper lip is pulled up too far, exposing too much gum. Other times, it’s due to teeth being covered with an excess amount of gum tissue, making them appear shorter and smaller than is ideal. It can also be due to the way the upper jaw has developed.
Treating a Gummy Smile
If you think you could have a gummy smile, make an appointment to come and see us at Margolian Dentistry. Our dentist can examine your teeth to assess how much gum you show while smiling, and if there is an excess, we can determine why. Once we know the cause, we can discuss possible treatments for a gummy smile in Whitby. If an excess amount of gum tissue covers your teeth, one option is to remove the excess gum tissue, carefully reshaping your gums to uncover the right amount of tooth structure.
It’s also possible to lengthen the appearance of teeth by placing dental crowns or veneers. This treatment may be recommended if someone has snapped off a tooth close to the gum line and where there isn’t enough tooth structure visible to restore it. Uncovering more of the natural tooth can allow a crown or veneer to be placed successfully. However, if your upper lip is moving up too high when you smile, Botox in Ajax is a non-invasive option.
When to Choose Botox for a Gummy Smile?
Most people think Botox is only for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, but it is a tried and tested solution for a gummy smile. Botox is used to smooth fine lines because it helps to relax facial muscles, reducing muscle contractions and creating a smoother appearance. It works in a similar way to treat a gummy smile.
Using small amounts of Botox helps prevent muscle contractions in the upper lip, reducing hypermobility so your upper lip does not move up too high when you smile. Consequently, the amount of gum tissue on display is reduced so you can smile and laugh without worrying about your appearance or feeling self-conscious.
Botox can also treat another condition where the upper lip becomes thinner and will tuck under whenever you smile, a condition called a lip inversion. This treatment is called the Botox Lip Flip in Ajax, relaxing the muscles that control the inversion movement, so the end result is a natural-looking smile where the appearance of your lip is enhanced. Some people choose to have this treatment along with lip fillers.
Your Smile in Good Hands
Botox treatment for a gummy smile or treating a lip inversion provides results that last around six months before you need a top-up. Dentists are the best people to provide this kind of treatment because they have intimate knowledge of how the facial muscles work and know exactly where to use Botox for maximum effect. Our dentist will only use a minimal amount of Botox to achieve excellent and safe results.
