Most cases are usually caused by excess gum tissue that obscures the crowns of the teeth. This is easily treatable with crown lengthening procedures, also known as gum contouring or gum lifting. During this procedure, we then take a variety of measurements to determine the appropriate proportions for your smile and the excess gum tissue and underlying bone are reshaped to expose the full length of teeth.

In other cases, the gumminess is caused by muscles in the upper lip contracting more than necessary when you smile. To treat this, we use a small amount of Botox Therapeutic to relax those muscles.

Excessive tooth wear can also contribute to a gummy smile. Over time, as teeth are ground down, the crown length becomes incrementally shorter and a process called compensatory eruption occurs. This is when the teeth slowly erupt toward the opposing arch to compensate for wear; this is the body’s way of maintaining a functioning bite with shorter teeth. This creates excessive gumminess because the gums, which are attached to the teeth, move with them as they erupt. Ideally, this issue is correctable with orthodontics to push the teeth back up, followed by rebuilding the lost tooth structure with crowns or other restorative measures.