If You Have a Gummy Smile, Dental Veneers and Crown Lengthening Can Help

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About 14% of women and 7% of men hesitate to fully smile or laugh heartily because they know that when they do, they will show an unusual amount of gum compared with the average person. This is known as having a “gummy smile,” not one that is considered beautiful by most people, and self-confidence depends a lot on having a smile you can be proud of.

GUMMY SMILES OCCUR FOR MANY REASONS

This can occur for a number of reasons, including having short or inactive upper lip muscles, muscles which lift the lips higher than normal, an unusually large upper jawbone that pushes lips down, more than average gum growth, and permanent teeth that did not emerge fully.

The ideal position for the upper lip when you smile is generally considered to just rest level where you gums meet your two front teeth. There are several ways Wilshire Smile Studio can help, sometimes combining multiple procedures.

HOW VENEERS CAN HELP

The most popular way is to have dental veneers, very thin slices of cosmetic porcelain, applied to the front of teeth which seem to have too much gum showing, taking into account the individual’s facial features. This can give these teeth a larger appearance, the altered size, length, and shape to achieve a “toothier smile” that is more attractive. .

Of course, the shade veneers are given by the dental laboratory that crafts them needs to match the shade of teeth without them that will show when you fully smile. Or you can select a whiter shade if the teeth which will not have veneers attached are whitened in advance to that shade.

The other way to create a smile that is less gummy is to surgically remove some of the gum, known as crown lengthening, especially when the teeth are short. A gummy smile can also be reduced by suturing the lip to the gums, limiting movement. Either of these surgeries is usually minor and done with local anesthesia by either our periodontist or oral surgeon.

If you feel your smile isn’t perfect, call Wilshire Smile Studio to set an appointment for an evaluation and discussion about your best options.

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6200 Wilshire Blvd, #1609
Los Angeles, CA 90048

(323) 922-5874

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