What is a gummy smile?

The gummy smile showing a little bit of gum when we smile is actually a sign of youth and beauty. Anything greater than two millimeters of gum show above the front teeth can actually detract from a smile and make it appear less attractive.   Gummy smiles can be caused by a number of things. A hyper mobile or an excessively mobile upper lip can lead to the lip riding up higher and exposing more gum. Vertical maxillary excess of the top jaw can lead to more gum display. Overgrown or excessive gum is another possible cause. Finally, people with heavily worn teeth may see more gum show as their teeth grow out or super erupt to compensate for changes in their bite. To fix a gummy smile the dentist first needs to establish the cause. For simple cases, we use laser to reshape the gums and to raise the level. For more severe cases crown lengthening to raise the gum and the bone levels may be necessary. Orthodontics can also play a part in repositioning the teeth relative to the gum.