[Dentist's Commentary] Can a Gummy Smile be Cured with Orthodontics? " 365 Dentist

Last updated May 1, 2022

Patient.

I am concerned that my lips turn up when I smile. Can a gummy smile be corrected with orthodontics?

dentist

Yes! It can be cured with orthodontics.
Orthodontics is recommended because it can improve the gummy smile while also improving the alignment of the teeth and the shape of the jaw.

In this article, I will discuss how to correct a gummy smile with orthodontics.

Gummy smile can be treated with orthodontics.

What is a gummy smile?The mouth where the upper gums appear larger when smiling.It is called the "mouth". Although the mouth looks youthful and attractive to some people, many people consider it complex.

Gummy smile is related to gums, teeth, and teeth alignment. It is also affected by muscle movement when smiling, so to cure a gummy smileThe necessary treatment should be selected according to the cause.

There are three main ways to cure a gummy smile.

remedy
Surgery to reshape the upper lip, gums, and jawbone
Botox injections into the muscles that pull up the upper lip

Orthodontic, gum and bone reshaping surgery is limited to what dentistry can handle, but it can improve the underlying cause of a gummy smile: the shape of the teeth, gums and bones.

Botox injections into the muscles that pull up the upper lip are only a symptomatic treatment, as the effect wears off after about six months.

Botox is easier to start with than orthodontics, though, because it is less expensive,If the teeth and bones are shaped in such a way that they are prone to gummy smiles, radical treatment with orthodontic or surgical procedures is recommended.

There are different degrees of gummy smile. For mild cases, Botox may be satisfactory, but for those severe enough that the gums are visible as much as the teeth, orthodontics with osteotomies or other orthodontic procedures are necessary.

Causes of Gummy Smile

Gummy smile is due to the following factorsIt is caused by the gums being easily visible or the lips being pulled too far up.

Jaw bone shape and tooth alignment
Length of teeth protruding from gums
Muscles around the mouth

Jaw bone shape and tooth alignment

The shape of the jawbone and the alignment of the teeth are the underlying causes of the gummy smile.

Long vertical maxillary bone
overbite
Mouth gobos (maxillary prognathism)
Deep bite (overbite)

For those with these teeth and bites, orthodontics can be effective in improving the gummy smile.

Long vertical maxillary bone

If the maxillary bone is long vertically, the gums tend to be more visible when smiling. If the bone shape is long vertically,The teeth are located lower than the upper lip and are more likely to have a gummy smile.

overbite

If you have bucktoothGums may protrude forward along with teethTherefore, it is easy to get a gummy smile.

Mouth gobos (maxillary prognathism)

Mouth sores are a condition in which the mouth protrudes when viewed in profile. This type ofUpper and lower jaw bones are skeletally forwardTherefore, it is just as likely to have a gummy smile as bucktooth.

Deep bite (overbite)

Deep bite is a deep bite.Gums are easily visible when smiling due to deep biteBite.

Length of teeth protruding from gums

If the length of the teeth protruding from the gums is short,The gum line is coming down to the bottom.Therefore, they are also prone to gummy smiles.

Muscles around the mouth

Thin upper lip
Strong upper lip muscles

If this applies to you,In both cases, the lips are raised too much due to the shape of the lips and their balance with the muscles.Possibility. Gums are more likely to be exposed, which can lead to a gummy smile.

How to Cure a Gummy Smile with Orthodontics

Correction improves the gummy smile in three ways

Pull your teeth back toward the back teeth.
Raise the position of teething
Cutting and shortening the maxillary bone

The orthodontic appliances used to improve the gummy smile are,Basically, this can be done with either wire or mouthpiece orthodontics.The device to be used will depend on the indications according to the alignment of the teeth and the bite, the policies of your dentist, and what devices he or she is good at handling.

Pull your teeth back toward the back teeth.

Orthodontics moves teeth toward the back,Improves the gummy smile by reducing the protruding mouth area.

Depending on the alignment of the teeth and the skeletal structure, extraction of teeth or surgery to cut the jawbone may be necessary to make room for the teeth to retract. In some cases, wire braces may be used in conjunction with another device, such as implant anchors, which are small screws implanted in the gums.

Raise the position of teething

If the upper jaw is long and vertical and the teeth are growing in the lower part of the jaw,Orthodontics raises the dentition in the direction of the nose and improves the gummy smile.

However, since the shape of the jawbone does not change, there is a limit to the amount of tooth repositioning that can be achieved with this method. Therefore, in some cases, surgery to cut the jawbone may be necessary.

Cutting and shortening the maxillary bone

If you have a long vertical upper jaw type of gummy smile,By cutting and shortening the jawbone, the bone is shaped to prevent a gummy smile.

How to fix a gummy smile other than by orthodontics

When a gummy smile is treated other than by orthodontics, the following methods are used to treat the gummy smile in addition to orthodontics.

Shape the upper lip and gums
Botox injections into the muscles around the mouth

Shape the upper lip and gums

The mucosa, gums and bone around the teeth are cut away to remove the cause of the gummy smile.Both can be handled by dentistry.

upper lip mucous membrane resection
Gingivoplasty (gingivectomy)
crown lengthening surgery

upper lip mucous membrane resection

If the upper lip is thin or muscular,This is a surgical procedure in which a portion of the mucosa of the upper lip is cut away to shorten it, thereby reducing the range of motion of the lip.

Since the lips are not pulled up any more than necessary, the amount of gum visible when smiling is reduced and the gummy smile is improved.

Gingivoplasty (gingivectomy)

This surgery is used when the amount of gum covering the teeth is large.Lengthening the teeth visible through the gums by cutting away the gums with a laser or other means raises the gum line.

Without orthodontics, the position of the teeth and the shape of the bone will not change, limiting the improvement of the gummy smile.

crown lengthening surgery

In addition to cutting the gums in gingivoplasty, the bone that supports the teeth (alveolar bone) is also shaved and prepared.Adjust the length of teeth protruding from the gums to improve the gummy smile.

Gingivoplasty alone may cause the gums to regress in shape as the surgical wounds heal, so crown lengthening is more likely to result in change than gingivoplasty.

Botox injections into the muscles that pull up the upper lip

Botox is injected to slow the movement of the muscles that pull up the upper lip.

Botox prevents the muscles from contracting, which reduces the amount the lips are pulled up when smiling and improves the gummy smile.

The Botox is effective for about six months,It should be treated on a regular basis.

Note that there is almost no adverse effect or burden on the body when Botox injections are stopped, as the muscles simply return to their original state.

Correction requires a treatment period of one to two years, and surgery to cut the jawbone requires at least one week of hospitalization and dietary restrictions.

If you are not prepared to spend that much, you may want to try Botox to experience what it will be like when your gummy smile is cured.