Gummy Smile Treatment

What is Gummy Smile?

Before giving information about   gummy smile treatment, what is gummy smile ? It is necessary to answer the question. When the gums are visible more than normal while talking and laughing, it is called gummy smile .

It is expected that the gums under the upper lip will not be visible at all or will be visible up to 2-3 mm when talking or laughing. In people with a gummy smile, the distance between the lower border of the upper lip and the visible gums is more than 3 mm. This causes the gums to appear excessively and the teeth to be perceived as smaller or larger than they actually are.

Gummy smile is an aesthetic problem that disrupts the aesthetics of the smile and can cause loss of self-confidence in people. However, today this aesthetic problem can be corrected with smile design botox .

What Causes Gummy Smile?

Gummy Smile has causes that range from genetics to simpler things like how we take care of our teeth. Here are the common reasons:

• Problems with teeth or the size of teeth
• Hyperactive muscle that lifts the upper lip up

• More gum visible due to thin upper lip
• Genetics – may be responsible for hyperactive or short lips
• bone structure
• Gums – they may be long or enlarged

The prevalence of gummy smile or gum smile in society varies between 7-9%. This condition is more common in women than in men, especially in their 20s and 30s, and its incidence decreases with age. 

For reasons other than a hyperactive or muscular gingival smile, it is necessary to seek help from a dentist or oral surgeon.

Muscle Based Gummy Smile Treatment

The mimic muscles responsible for this aesthetic problem are;

• levator labi superior alaque nasi
• levator labi superior
•  depressor septi nasi,
• zygomatic major and zygomatic minor muscles.

With active movement, the muscles to be injected are determined according to the visible part and direction of the gum between the upper lip and the tooth.

Botulinum toxin injections are used in the treatment of clenching, teeth grinding, temporamandibular joint problems, correction of facial muscles, correction of facial asymmetries, and removal of wrinkles, as well as for gummy smile patients.

Gummy Smile Treatment with Botox Injection

Botulinum toxin is used in gummy smile treatment , that is, smile design is made with gum botox . Depending on the patient, injections can be made at 2, 4 or sometimes 5 different points. Injections are painless and their effects last for up to 4-6 months.

Before the application, local anesthetic cream can be applied to the area where botulinum toxin will be applied, and local anesthesia can be made. Patients generally do not feel pain. Injections are applied to appropriate points on the nasolabial line. The procedure takes approximately 5-10 minutes and patients can return to their daily lives immediately after the application. Patients can be called for control after 10-15 days.

After injecting Botox, it is necessary to wait 3 or 4 days for results. The height of the upper lip will gradually decrease and the full result will be seen within 14 days after the treatment. Additional injections may be required depending on your desired results.