Cosmetic Dentistry for a Gummy Smile

    FAIRFAX, VA, July 25, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Healthy gums frame and complement your teeth, for an aesthetically-pleasing smile. When your gums are well-contoured, your teeth and smile will look healthier. One of the common cosmetic dental problems that can negatively impact your smile is excessive gum tissue, or a "gummy smile."

A gummy smile causes your teeth to look small, as your gums are more prominent than your teeth. A gummy smile can impact your self confidence and cause you to hide your teeth or refrain from smiling.

Laser Gum Recontouring

If your teeth look too small or too short because of the disproportionate ratio of gums to teeth, laser gum recontouring can help. Excessive gum tissue can make your teeth look crooked or flat. This procedure works by removing the excessive gum tissue to expose more of your tooth. Gum recontouring can also be used if your gums are uneven around your teeth to produce a consistent, even gum line.

The Procedure

Laser gum recontouring procedure is fairly common. This procedure uses a combination of gingivectomy (removal of excess gums) and gingivoplasty (the surgical reshaping of the outer surface of your gums) to create an aesthetically-pleasing smile. A gingivectomy can be performed alone if there is just a small amount of excessive gum tissue. With more severe cases, your gum tissue may still look bulky and thick following the gingivectomy procedure. Healthy gum tissue is thin where it meets your teeth, and thickens as it moves away. Gingivoplasty is the procedure used to thin gum tissue that appears too thick.

Many dentists utilize radiosurgery, which involves a dental laser, to remove a small amount of gum tissue. This procedure involves no pain and there are no surtures involved. Your gum tissue will heal on its own within several weeks, leaving you with a more attractive smile.

Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening may also be used in combination with gum recontouring. This is a more extensive procedure that must be well-planned. Crown lengthening is ideal if you have too much bone underneath your gums, and the bone must be removed to create an attractive contour. This procedure involves the removal and/or contouring of both your gum tissues and underlying bone. This lengthens the appearance of your teeth, and can prepare them for dental crown or porcelain veneer placement.

A beautiful, healthy smile is often created by a combination of different elements and procedures. Everything in your mouth must be aesthetically arranged, not only your teeth.

Causes of A Gummy Smile

A "gummy smile" or excessive gingival display can result for a number of reasons, such as:
- Bruxism, or jaw grinding while you are asleep can cause your teeth to wear down more quickly.
- A long upper jawbone may be hereditary. This can cause your teeth to appear small and your gums to seem larger than normal.
- Short upper lips can also be genetic, and create the illusion of excessive gums and short teeth.
- A high lip line may also be to blame. In these cases, surgery can be performed to reattach your gum tissue under your lip and limit the movement of your upper lip (which causes your gummy smile).

During your initial consultation, your dentist will assess your condition and recommend the kind of treatment that is necessary for your condition, and that best meets your needs.

If you would like more information on correcting a gummy smile, please visit the website for Michael K. Chung, D.D.S. (www.softouchdentalcare.com) at Softouch Dental Care in Oakton, Virginia, serving patients in Oakton, Tysons Corner, Reston, Fairfax, Alexandria, Arlington, Washington D.C. and the Northern Virginia area.

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