Gummy smiles, also known as gingival smiles, are a common complaint for many seeking a more cosmetic smile. People often find gummy smiles embarrassing, but few understand that there viable treatments options for this condition. While the appearance of gingival smiles can arise for a variety of reasons, there is usually some kind of treatment available for someone seeking to correct their gummy smile.
Trapnell Orthodontics is proud to provide orthodontic services to those in Utah County. Our experienced orthodontists provide treatments from Provo to Payson, delivering quality care and service to each of our patients. Before calling us to schedule a consultation for your gingival smile, learn more about the treatment options that are available!
What Causes Gummy Smiles?
There are a number of factors that create the appearance of a gummy smile. Before seeking treatment, it’s important to consult your orthodontist to learn more about the cause of your gingival smile:
- Low Gum Line: Most commonly, the gum line will be low on the teeth, creating the look of a gummy smile. This might be the most treatable cause.
- Size and Shape of Your Teeth: In many cases, small teeth can give your smile a gummy appearance. But the orientation of your teeth can give the outside appearance of a gummy smile as well.
- The Position of Your Upper Lip: Gummy smiles can be caused by a hypermobile lip, which is a fancy term to say that your lips move a lot. For example, someone could have a gingival smile because the resting place of the upper lip is higher than most. Fortunately, there are treatments and surgeries that can help correct this complication.
- Vertical Position of the Upper Jaw: In some cases, your upper jaw might be too long. This is known as Vertical Maxillary Excess, and can be treated by surgically reducing the size of the upper jaw.
How Can you Treat Gummy Smiles?
The treatment for gummy smiles depends completely on the cause. So before seeking treatment, it’s important to consult your orthodontist to learn more about what’s causing your gummy smile. Whether it’s a simple issue with the gum-to-teeth ratio, or something more complex like Vertical Maxillary Excess, there a numerous treatments available to treat the causes of gingival smiles.
Seeking Orthodontics with Trapnell?
If you’re considering orthodontic treatment with Trapnell Orthodontics, you can contact us here to schedule a consultation! We’re happy to help!
