Gummy Smile
What Causes a Gummy Smile?
A gummy smile, also known as excessive gingival display, occurs when a person smiles and a significant portion of their upper gum line is exposed, often making the teeth appear short in comparison. Several factors can contribute to a gummy smile, and dental treatment will vary according to the cause.
Excessive Gum Tissue
Known medically as gingival hyperplasia, excessive gum tissue occurs when your gums have grown too much and cover more of your teeth than they should, resulting in a smile that appears "gummy."
Overactive Lip Muscles
Some people have very flexible, hypermobile upper lip muscles that can lift too high when they smile, which leads to showing more of their gum tissue.
Short Upper Lip
The length of your upper lip can influence a gummy smile. If your upper lip doesn't cover your gums when you smile, it can make the gum tissue more visible.
Altered Tooth Eruption
Also known as altered passive eruption, this dental condition occurs when the normal process of tooth eruption and gum tissue development is disrupted, leading to the appearance of shorter and squarer teeth.
Excessive Jaw Growth
Vertical maxillary excess occurs when the upper jaw grows too much vertically, making your lower face look longer. It's one of the most common causes of a gummy smile.
Dentoalveolar Extrusion
Dentoalveolar extrusion occurs when the upper front teeth move down too much, making your gums more visible.
Gummy Smile Treatment At Jovan Prosthodontics
The right treatment for you will depend mainly on the cause of your gummy smile. Our dentist, Dr. Ace Jovanovski, offers two comprehensive treatment options to help Round Rock and Austin patients achieve their ideal smile.
Crown lengthening can help an uneven smile by removing excess gum tissue and reshaping the bone to reveal more of a tooth's crown, which helps the tooth look longer and more balanced in your smile.
Is Treatment Covered
By Insurance?
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Treatment to correct a gummy smile is considered a cosmetic procedure and is not often covered by insurance. To help you budget the cost of treatment, we accept CareCredit® financing at our Round Rock, TX, dentist's office.
Other Treatments
May be Advised
If an overactive upper lip or jaw muscle is causing your top lip to expose too much of your gums, BOTOX® injections can help reduce muscle movement. We can refer you to an expert BOTOX injector in the Austin area who can precisely place injections to reduce hypermobility and the appearance of a gummy smile.
Misalignment can affect how the teeth and jaw interact, making the gums more visible when you smile. Orthodontics can help correct this. While we don't offer orthodontic treatment at Jovan Prosthodontics, we can refer you to Dr. Jovanovski's wife, Dr. Sarah Jovanovski, who runs Jovan Orthodontics right next door.
"I really love Dr. Ace and his whole team."
Judi Bolden
Round Rock, TX
2023
I've been going to Dr Ace for about 3 years now. I am a transplant to the area so Dr Ace and team picked me up with somebody else having done the work. I wish I had lived in Austin years ago and known about Dr Ace. This place is great, and I've recommended them personally so thought I'd recommend them on here also.
View on GoogleNate Hall
Round Rock, TX
2023
I really love Dr. Ace and his whole team. Everyone is very cool, calming and friendly. My mouth was a total ****show and they did so much work for me and on me. I'm happy and proud with a smile these days. I'm so glad I ended up finding Dr. Ace and I hope for others, that need mouth help, do as well.
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