If you’re self-conscious about your gummy smile, you don’t have to live with it. A laser gum lift allows Dr. Michael J. Wei, Manhattan cosmetic dentist, to reshape your gum line and show off more tooth than gum. You can get the attractive smile you want and feel good about yourself.
What Is a Laser Gum Lift?
A sophisticated dental laser has made gum recontouring easier and more comfortable than ever before. A minimally invasive procedure, the laser gum lift allows your Manhattan restorative dentist to reshape the gum line quickly and comfortably. Only a local anesthetic is necessary for this procedure, but the results are dramatic and immediate.
When some gum tissue is removed, more tooth enamel is exposed. A laser gum lift is known for providing precision and accuracy to create a beautiful, symmetrical smile. Because short teeth and gummy smiles often go hand in hand, there are some cases where Dr. Wei may recommend adding porcelain veneers to the newly revealed teeth to provide additional length for optimal cosmetic results.
What Causes a Gummy Smile?
There are several potential causes of a gummy smile. The type of treatment you are eligible for to fix the excessive gingival display will depend on what’s behind the problem:
- Poorly erupted teeth. If adult teeth did not erupt properly, they may remain partially covered by gum tissue and look short.
- Enlarged gums. Gum overgrowth, also known as gingival hypertrophy or gingival enlargement, is a common feature of gingivitis. This early stage of periodontal disease is often represented by inflamed or swollen gums.
- Lip size. If the upper lip is too short (hypermobile) or lifts too high when smiling (hyperactive), more gum tissue will show.
- Jaw growth. In vertical maxillary excess, the upper jaw is overgrown, causing the gums to bulge out.
- Genetics. Sometimes it’s the luck of the draw and DNA determines if you’ll have more gum tissue showing than you would like.
While there are plenty of legitimate reasons for a gummy smile, whether this characteristic is considered a problem is usually a matter of perception. Just as some people love the gap between their front teeth, other people are happy to embrace the extra gums that they have been given or developed.
If you’re embarrassed to smile because you think too much gum tissue shows, the proportion of gum to tooth enamel can be altered to give your smile and entire face balance.
Are You a Good Candidate for Gum Recontouring?
Laser gum contouring removes extra gum tissue without surgery, but not every person with a gummy smile is a good candidate for a laser gum lift. That doesn’t mean, however, that the problem cannot be fixed.
- If you have a bite problem that is causing a mild gingival display, orthodontics like Invisalign braces can be used to shift the bite into the correct position. Combining this move with a laser gum lift creates a permanent gum repair and smile makeover.
- A gummy smile caused by a severely protruding jaw may require orthognathic surgery and orthodontics to recontour the jaw to the correct size and place.
- Porcelain veneers make short teeth look longer. If a gummy smile is annoying you, but short teeth are annoying you more, the cosmetic dentistry treatment may be more attractive or appropriate in repairing the tooth-to-gum ratio than the laser treatment alone.
Get the Beautiful Smile You Want in Midtown
It’s not just teeth that your Midtown cosmetic dentist takes into consideration. Dr. Wei examines all the components of your smile to determine how they will work in harmony. Your teeth, gums, jaw, lips, cheeks, chin, and overall face shape all impact whether a cosmetic dentistry or restorative dentistry treatment is right for you.
Contact our office on Madison Avenue today to schedule your consultation to discuss your gummy smile or other aesthetic concerns.
