Treatment Options for Gummy Smiles
- Orthodontics
- Surgery (gingivectomy)
- Botulinum toxin A injections
- Micro-autologous fat transplantation (MAFT)
- Botox lip flip (lasts for an average of 6 months)
- Orthognathic surgery (for gummy smiles caused by skeletal abnormalities)
- Lip repositioning technique (surgical procedure to improve smile harmony)
- Intrusion of anterior teeth (to improve smile esthetics)
- Gingivoplasty (reshaping gum tissue for a more balanced smile)
Safety and Efficacy of Botox
- Botox is considered one of the safest and most widely used injectables
- Botox (BTX-A) has been successful in treating gummy smiles
- Botox is usually injected in the three lip elevator muscles that converge on the lateral side of the ala of the nose
- Botox reduces the upward movement of the lip, resulting in less gingival exposure
- Botox is effective in reducing excessive gingival display
Clinical Parameters and Diagnosis of Gummy Smiles
- Clinical parameters are useful for diagnosing and determining the appropriate treatment approach
- Diagnosis involves assessing the amount of gingival display during smiling
- Diagnostic tools and techniques include photography and radiographic analysis
- Evaluation of smile esthetics is important in diagnosing and treating gummy smiles
- Assessment of lip dynamics and muscle activity helps determine the underlying cause of gummy smiles
Research and Studies on Gummy Smiles
- Studies evaluating the effectiveness of different treatment options
- Systematic review and meta-analysis on the duration of effectiveness of Botulinum toxin type A
- Research supporting micro-autologous fat transplantation as an effective treatment
- Studies exploring the surface anatomy of lip elevator muscles for botulinum toxin treatment
- Research on the safety and efficacy of various treatment modalities
Other Treatment Options for Gummy Smiles
- Orthognathic surgery (for skeletal abnormalities)
- Lip repositioning technique
- Intrusion of anterior teeth
- Micro-autologous fat transplantation (MAFT)
- Gingivoplasty (reshaping gum tissue)
Gummy smile, also known as excessive gingival display, is a smile that shows gum under the upper lip. It is a common clinical condition, which can be caused by an abnormal dental eruption (delayed passive eruption), hyperfunction of the upper lip elevator muscle, excessive vertical growth of the maxilla bone, over-eruption of the maxillary anterior teeth, or a combination of the above described factors. Several treatment options have been proposed to enhance the smile display and to reduce the gingival exposure.
