What is a Gummy Smile?
Gummy smile refers to the condition where the gum is very prominent. When compared to their teeth, some people’s gums stand out very prominently. The main reason for this is the shortnaess of their teeth. As a result, such people cannot feel comfortable while laughing or even talking. This negatively affects the self-confidence and social life of the person.
Causes of a Gummy Smile
- Having a very thin upper lip,
- Short tooth length,
- Too much movement of the upper lip muscle,
- Inflammation due to gum diseases,
- Overgrowth of the gums,
- Certain hypertension medicines.
What is a Gummy Smile Treatment? How Is It Performed?
Gummy smile treatment is commonly performed with botox. The treatment can only be performed by a plastic surgeon, medical aesthetic doctor, dermatologist or specialized dentist. A specialist dentist is able to change the lip’s uppermost opening limit during the smile with Botox. Botox is applied to the muscle that lifts the lip for this purpose. This allows the upper lip to become thicker. However, the purpose of this procedure is not to make the lip thicker. Its purpose is to cover the gums. Ideally, a maximum of 1 cm of gum should be visible. Because more would spoil an aesthetic smile.
Is Gummy Smile Treatment Dangerous?
Some patients seeking this treatment worry that the procedure may be potentially harmful. However, you do not need to worry about this. Gummy smile treatment is a non-damaging application. However, since it is applied with botox, it only gives permanent results for 6 months. After 6 months, the botox melts and becomes full. If you wish, you can have botox again later.
What are the Treatment Methods Other than Botox?
Traditional Gingivectomy
It is a method that has been used for many years in the treatment of gummy smile. With the advent of laser gingivectomy, it became known as traditional or classical gingivectomy.
The first step before starting the procedure is the application of local anesthesia. Once the anesthesia has taken effect, the dentist uses a scalpel to reshape the patient’s gum. In some cases, it may be necessary to intervene not only in the gum but also in the underlying bone. At the end of the operation, the incisions are closed with surgical sutures.
Laser gingivectomy: In this method, the surgeon reshapes the gums with the help of a laser. He removes strips from the gum line to emphasize the teeth. Thus, he achieves the ideal gum size. Laser treatment has many advantages over the traditional method. There is much less bleeding and the healing process is shorter.
What to do before a Gummy Smile Treatment?
No preparation is required before gummy smile treatment with Botox. In fact, the procedure is quite simple and comfortable for the patient. The only thing you should be aware of is that gummy smile treatment is not suitable for some patient groups. For example, people who have a chronic disease and regularly use medication may not be suitable for treatment. At this point, the physician makes the decision. The same applies to pregnant women, women in the puerperium and people with various skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. If you are considering gummy smile treatment and have any of these conditions, be sure to inform your doctor.
What to do after a Gummy Smile Treatment?
After the procedure, patients should also pay attention to their dental care. They should take good care of their teeth and brush them with the right techniques. It is also important to use toothbrushes suitable for their gums. The treatment and recovery process is painless, painless and comfortable. Since the procedure is performed with the help of local anesthesia, patients do not feel pain. They do not have any problems in this way after the procedure.
If you want to have gum aesthetics or get more detailed information about the procedure, you can fill out the form on the right side of the page or you can contact our health consultants directly by clicking the WhatsApp button. We wish you a healthy day!