A gummy smile is a smile that shows a wide band of gum above the upper teeth. Dentists call it excessive gingival display.¹ It is usually a cosmetic concern, not a disease, and it can be corrected. Gummy smile treatment depends on the cause: the gums, the teeth, the upper lip or the jaw.
That is why two people with the same-looking smile can need completely different treatment, and why diagnosis comes first.
What causes a gummy smile?
A gummy smile can come from one of these, or a combination:¹
- Too much gum over the teeth. The teeth are a normal length, but gum covers part of the crown, so they look short. Dentists call this altered passive eruption or a lack of clinical crown length.
- Front teeth that have come down too far. The teeth and the gum around them sit lower than they should.
- A short upper lip.
- The upper jaw. The jaw has grown longer vertically than average, which is a skeletal cause.
An upper lip that lifts very high when you smile is another reason dentists see in practice.
Gums that have become swollen or overgrown are a different matter. That can be a sign of gum disease or a side effect of some medicines, and it is treated as a health problem first. Our guide to gum treatment in Jeddah explains the signs.
How is a gummy smile diagnosed?
The dentist looks at four things:
- how much gum shows at rest and in a full smile
- the length and proportions of the front teeth
- the length and movement of the upper lip
- the position of the teeth and jaws, on photographs and X-rays
Digital planning helps here. Scans, standard photographs and 3D imaging can be combined to plan the result on screen before any treatment.¹
Gummy smile treatment options
| Cause | Treatment | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| Gum covering too much of the teeth | Crown lengthening (gum contouring) | Periodontist |
| Front teeth too low | Orthodontic treatment | Orthodontist |
| Lip lifts high or is short | Botox, or lip repositioning | Trained clinician or surgeon |
| Upper jaw too long | Jaw surgery with orthodontics | Oral and maxillofacial surgeon and orthodontist |
Crown lengthening (gum contouring)
In crown lengthening, the periodontist removes the excess gum tissue to expose more of the tooth, then sculpts the gum line so the teeth look the right length.² When the bone under the gum also sits too low on the tooth, a small amount of bone is reshaped as well. This is the technically demanding part of the procedure, and it is what makes the result stable.¹
It is done under local anaesthetic. The teeth look longer straight away, and the gum line settles over the following weeks.
Orthodontic gummy smile correction
When the front teeth sit too low, braces or aligners can move them upward, taking the gum with them. Small temporary anchors called miniscrews are often used to give the upward push. This takes months, like any orthodontic treatment, and it changes the cause instead of covering it.
Botox for a gummy smile
When the cause is a lip that lifts too high, small doses of Botox relax the muscles that raise the lip, so less gum shows. There is no surgery and no recovery time. The effect wears off after some months and has to be repeated, so it suits people who want a reversible option or want to see the change before choosing something permanent.
Gummy smile surgery
Two operations are used in selected cases:
- Lip repositioning limits how far the upper lip can rise.
- Jaw surgery moves the upper jaw upward when the jaw itself is the cause. It is combined with orthodontics, involves a hospital stay, and is reserved for marked skeletal cases.
Veneers or crowns afterwards
Once the gum line is corrected, some people choose veneers or crowns to improve the shape and proportions of the teeth. This is often part of a wider plan, as in a Hollywood smile.
What to expect after gum contouring
Tenderness and some swelling for a few days are normal. You eat soft food at first, clean the area gently as instructed, and return for a review. Final veneers or crowns, if planned, wait until the gum has fully healed.
Is gummy smile correction permanent?
It depends on the method. Crown lengthening and jaw surgery are intended to be lasting. Orthodontic results last if you wear your retainer. Botox is temporary by nature.
What affects the cost?
The cost follows the cause and the method: how many teeth are involved, whether bone is reshaped as well as gum, whether orthodontics is needed, and whether veneers follow. You get a figure after the examination, when the plan is clear.
Gummy smile treatment at Tam Dental
A gummy smile often needs more than one specialty, and the order matters. At Tam Dental the case is assessed by periodontists and orthodontists in the same clinic. One of the consultant orthodontists has a special interest in gummy smiles and holds a cosmetic facial fellowship from the University of Genova, so orthodontic and Botox options are planned together. The cosmetic dentistry team handles any veneers that follow.
Book an online consultation with a discount, call 920033363, or visit the clinic in Ash Shati, Jeddah.
FAQ
Is a gummy smile bad for my health?
Usually not. It is mainly a cosmetic concern. Swollen or overgrown gums are different and should be checked for gum disease.
Can a gummy smile be fixed without surgery?
Sometimes. Botox and orthodontics are non-surgical options when the cause is the lip or the position of the teeth.
Does gum contouring hurt?
It is done under local anaesthetic. Tenderness for a few days afterwards is common and is managed with ordinary pain relief.
Can braces fix a gummy smile?
They can when the front teeth sit too low. They do not help when the cause is the lip or extra gum tissue.
How long does gummy smile treatment take?
Gum contouring is a single procedure with a few weeks of healing. Orthodontic correction takes months. Your dentist gives a timeline once the cause is known.
Will my teeth look longer after treatment?
After crown lengthening, yes: more of each tooth is visible, which is the aim.²
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Salma Ghoneim, Consultant in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (University of Illinois at Chicago; Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics).
Sources
- Journal article on PubMed Central — Guided periodontal plastic surgery for the correction of gummy smile using data merging and CAD-CAM surgical guide — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13286588/
- American Academy of Periodontology — Cosmetic Procedures — https://www.perio.org/for-patients/periodontal-treatments-and-procedures/cosmetic-procedures/
