Gummy Smile
How to correct a smile that shows too much gum.
A gummy smile is a gum problem, not a tooth problem – so veneers are usually the wrong answer.
A gummy smile shows excess gum tissue. It can be corrected for a more balanced smile.
Treatment
Gum contouring and crown lengthening, sometimes combined with veneers.
Natural Result
Treatment is planned around your facial proportions.
When the gums, not the teeth, are the issue
A gummy smile is when an excess of gum shows above the teeth when you smile. The important first step is diagnosing the cause, because the cause decides the treatment – and veneers are usually the wrong answer.
The common causes
Excess gum tissue covering short-looking teeth (treatable by gum contouring / crown lengthening). A hyperactive upper lip that lifts too high (treatable with botulinum toxin or lip repositioning). Skeletal / jaw factors (may need orthodontics or, rarely, surgery). Over-erupted teeth. Each has a different, targeted fix.
Why veneers rarely solve it
Veneers change the teeth, not the gum line. Placing veneers on a gummy smile without addressing the gums removes healthy enamel and leaves the underlying problem. A conservative dentist treats the gum or lip cause first – often with no enamel removal at all. See smile design.
What a proper assessment includes
Measuring how much gum shows, checking lip mobility, tooth proportions and the bite, and identifying which cause applies before proposing treatment. Gum contouring or botulinum toxin can resolve many cases far more conservatively than veneers. See dental aesthetics in Turkey.
This page is for general information and does not replace a dental examination. Results are individual and cannot be guaranteed.
gummy smile: key points
Causes include excess gum tissue, a hyperactive upper lip, skeletal factors or over-erupted teeth, each with a targeted fix.
Gum contouring or botulinum toxin often resolves it far more conservatively than veneers.
For the full overview, see our page on dental aesthetics in Turkey.
Frequently Asked Questions
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