Do you wish your teeth and gums had better balance?

The ratio between your gums and your teeth can completely change the appearance of your smile. With cosmetic dentistry, it’s possible to balance the height of your gums and the length of your teeth for an entirely new look. So take heart if your gummy smile has been stealing your confidence.

Types of Gummy Smiles and What Causes Them to Occur

A gummy smile is most easily described as any smile that has excessive gum tissue showing. This effect might be because of the teeth appearing short or the gums seeming too low and obvious when smiling.

There are three types of gummy smiles, described by their underlying cause.

1. Bite Misalignment

A misaligned bite means your jaws and teeth aren’t properly aligned when your mouth is closed. Overbites and underbites are two terms you might already be familiar with. Bite misalignment can cause many different issues, including making a person’s smile protrude and expose gum tissue.

2. Hyperactive Lip

A hyperactive lip is a genetic condition in which the muscles in the upper lip and even the nose tend to rise higher than normal. This pulls the upper lip higher than normal, exposing much of the gum tissue underneath. In many cases, the person may otherwise have a fairly balanced smile if it weren’t for the hyperactivity.

3. Excessive Gum Tissue

The most common cause is pretty simple: a person just has too much gum tissue. This may be linked to genetics, but it also can be caused by the abnormal eruption of permanent teeth. In childhood, as primary teeth are lost and permanent teeth erupt, sometimes it can trigger an overgrowth of gum tissue. Many patients with this type of gummy smile may be shocked to discover that their short teeth are actually a normal length; they’re just hidden under the gums.

Oral health can also impact a smile’s “gumminess.”

If you noticed your smile has developed a gummy appearance when you didn’t have one before, your mouth may be telling you something. Periodontal disease causes gum inflammation and eventual infection. Swollen, puffy gums are a symptom that can make your smile seem gummy when it’s actually a case of gum disease.

Why Fix Your Gummy Smile and When to Take Action

Seeking treatment from a cosmetic dentist for your gummy smile offers many benefits. The primary reason patients choose to fix their gummy smiles is so they can feel more comfortable and confident with their appearance. We absolutely believe everyone deserves to have a smile they love and want to share with others.

Other reasons a patient may want to fix their smile tend to revolve around the underlying cause of the gumminess. For example, if your misaligned bite is the cause of your gummy smile, seeking treatment will also boost your overall oral health and even solve other problems, like TMJ or chronic jaw discomfort.

It goes without saying that treatment is necessary for a gummy smile caused by periodontal disease. Leaving periodontal disease untreated can result in serious infection, tooth loss, and permanent bone loss in the jaw and face.

How Dr. Alhadef Brings Balance to a Gummy Smile

Dr. Alhadef uses laser gum contouring to treat patients with gummy smiles.

Laser gum contouring is a specialized form of cosmetic dentistry that offers incredibly effective results for patients with excessive gum tissue. Using a high-tech soft tissue dental laser, Dr. Alhadef will delicately remove excess gum tissue, sculpting it back with precision to reveal more of the tooth surface without exposing the sensitive roots of your teeth.

Since this process relies on laser technology, patients experience far greater comfort, reduced bleeding and swelling, and an expedited healing time afterward.

If your gummy smile has been caused by periodontal disease, Dr. Alhadef also offers periodontal therapy and oral surgery.

Laser gum contouring may be accompanied by additional cosmetic dentistry procedures. After the gums have been reshaped, you may also need dental crowns or porcelain veneers to protect your teeth and achieve a well-balanced appearance.

Learn more about laser gum contouring at your consultation.

The first step in treating a gummy smile is scheduling the initial consultation with Dr. Alhadef.

Your consultation will include an extensive examination of your smile and an in-depth discussion about laser gum contouring. Dr. Alhadef will walk you through the process of laser gum contouring and what kind of results you can expect to see from the procedure. You’ll also discuss any additional services you might need, such as porcelain veneers or treatment of tooth decay before laser contouring is possible.

You can schedule your laser gum contouring consultation with Dr. Alhadef by calling our Dallas office or requesting an appointment online.