When I smile it is mostly gums. I think the term is called a gummy smile. Is there a procedure my dentist can do that will give me a more attractive smile?
Elsie
Dear Elsie,
Yes, it is possible to improve the appearance of a gummy smile. However, you have to be very careful about which dentist you go to in order to have this done. It takes a highly skilled cosmetic dentist to do this well. Most dentists will recommend sending you to an oral surgeon. They will do a radical surgery where they cut and shorten your Maxilla, which is your upper jaw. This not only completely changes the shape of your face, but it will also change your bite, which can lead to painful TMJ Disorder.
Instead, you want a gum lift. This can be done by an expert cosmetic dentist trained in gum contouring. Not all are, so you will need to do your homework and ask to see some before and after images of work they’ve done for this. With this procedure, a small amount of gum tissue, along with some of the supporting bone, is removed. This exposes the teeth roots a bit. Then, porcelain veneers are placed over the fronts of the teeth to make them look natural and cover the exposed areas.
As I said, you will need to be careful who does this. I would start by asking dentists who are AACD accredited what type of training and experience they have with gum contouring. These are the best cosmetic dentists in the country.
This blog is brought to you by Des Moines, IA Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.