Your smile is your most important physical feature. Smiling has proven health and mood-boosting benefits for the person smiling and the people who receive the smile. Feeling comfortable to smile confidently is essential. But many people feel insecure with their smile due to a gummy smile.
Excessive gingival display, or a ‘gummy smile’, is medically defined as two millimeters or more of exposed gum when you smile. Having visible gum is not inherently bad or a cause for concern. In fact, up to 29 percent of the population is reported to have a gummy smile, affecting more women than men. However, it can cause insecurity.
Luckily, there are many options available to address a gummy smile if it is causing you discomfort. In recent years, botox has become a popular solution for gummy smiles. At Sisu Clinic we help patients create beautiful, balanced smiles using botox.
Keep reading to learn more about how to use botox to fix a gummy smile.
Read that again. You deserve to love your smile! Feeling confident when you smile can affect your social interactions, how you show up in the world, how well you perform at work, and in your love life.
In a study conducted in the UK, a shocking two million people experience depression due to imperfections in their smile. In the U.S., similar data was discovered. A survey found that 57 percent of Americans cover their mouths when they laugh due to insecurity. So why is this an issue?
First and foremost, feeling insecure about your smile can prevent you from smiling. But smiling is important! When you smile, your brain releases endorphins and other feel-good neurotransmitters. Your levels of stress decline when you smile, biochemically changing the brain like an antidepressant would.
Your smile is also responsible for social connectedness. It’s a way to build friendships and relationships; allowing us to bond with people. Feeling uncomfortable smiling due to a gummy smile can have adverse effects across the board - hurting your self-esteem, confidence, social relationships, and more. If you are struggling with smile insecurity due to a gummy smile, it’s time to take action.
A gummy smile can affect anyone. Even those with perfect teeth and lips! Specifically, a gummy smile is when the upper lip lifts higher than the gum line when you smile. The lip rests high up on the gum above your upper teeth leaving part of the gum exposed. As mentioned, according to the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, it’s defined as two millimeters or more of exposed gum when you smile.
Here are some of the top causes of a gummy smile.
Whatever caused your gummy smile, there are treatments for. Let’s explore some of the top solutions for a gummy smile now.
How to address your gummy smile depends on what is causing your gums to be exposed. Before deciding on a procedure, it’s important to have a consultation with a qualified medical professional and get professional advice. Schedule a free consultation now to assess your best treatment option for a gummy smile.
1. Crown lengthening
Crown lengthening, also known as gingivectomy, is a dental procedure that can be used to remove excess gum and expose more teeth.
2. Laser gum contouring
Laser gum contouring is a procedure that is similar to gingivectomy but it is done with a laser to move back the gum lines.
3. Orthognathic surgery
Orthognathic surgery is a jaw straightening surgery where the jaw is repositioned further up the skull. Surgery is the most invasive way to treat a gummy smile and many people do not wish to go this route due to expense and recovery.
4. Lip repositioning surgery
Another type of surgery is lip repositioning surgery. It can be used to move your lips downward to cover your gums. However, much like orthognathic surgery, is unappealing or not feasible for most people.
5. Veneers
If the cause of your gummy smile is short or small teeth, veneers might be a good option for you to hide a gummy smile. Veneers are popular for improving the appearance of teeth by placing material over the teeth, the results may bring overall balance to your smile making your gums less protruding.
6. Botox
The best alternative to surgery for a gummy smile is botox. Botox can be used to target the upper lip muscles to stop them from lifting above the gum line. Let’s explain this in a little more depth so you know how botox can fix a gummy smile.
Botox is commonly used to combat fine lines and wrinkles. However, this is just one use of botox. It can also be used to fix a gummy smile by targeting the activity of the upper lip muscles. Designed to relax the muscles in the upper lip, botox temporarily paralyzes the activity of the upper lip muscle, preventing it from lifting up as high on the gumline and thus, exposing the gums.
The treatment is performed using botox, a neuromodulator, which is placed in the upper lip, as well as in-between the nose and upper lip area. Botox will disrupt the nerves on your upper lip from contracting when you smile, in essence keeping the lip in place so that gums don’t show.
The treatment is non-invasive and is a relatively quick and painless procedure. The effects of the botox on your upper lip will become visible up to a week after the treatment and will last three months on average.
When undergoing any cosmetic treatment, it is important to fully understand how a treatment works and what benefits it will bring to you, so you can assess whether to go ahead with it. That’s why we spoke with the medical team at Sisu Clinic to establish some of the major benefits of getting botox injections for a gummy smile. We’ve summarized the top benefits for you:
Unlike invasive surgeries to hide a gummy smile which can change the way you look forever, botox is temporary. If you don’t like the way it changes your smile or want to keep your natural smile, you have the ability to do that because botox is only semi-permanent, lasting around three months. You can choose to discontinue the injections at any point.
Undergoing a surgery can be daunting, expensive, and come with risks. Botox injections are considered a safe and less costly solution.
Botox injections only take approximately 15 minutes to complete making it easy to fit the treatment into your routine.
Botox has been proven to be a safe and relatively painless procedure that is widely used for cosmetic purposes.
Using botox to relax the upper lip is an effective approach that will reduce the amount of gum being displayed when smiling. For most clients it will greatly reduce their gum exposure and associated discomfort.
Many clients get botox in their upper lips to enhance their visual appearance for reasons other than gummy smiles. Some people opt for botox in this area as a more subtle alternative to lip fillers as it helps to define your upper lip and make lips appear plumper and more defined. It can also reduce the appearance of wrinkles on your upper lip, smoothing vertical lip lines.
Sisu is highly experienced in performing Botox on the upper lip for the purposes of reducing a gummy smile. Many patients comment on how the Botox reduces the appearance of overexposed gums and helps create a more natural-looking smile.
Sisu is a doctor-led, aesthetic clinic committed to offering unparalleled care. We are committed to delivering results that are noticeable and natural leaving you feeling ready to take on the world. Our physicians and medical practitioners are board-certified, licensed, and highly trained to provide the utmost patient care.
Our experienced medical professionals will be there to guide you and give comprehensive advice on the best solution for you. Every treatment is personalized to suit your needs and will be based on an in-depth discussion between you and our medical practitioner.
Click here to book a free consultation for botox for a gummy smile.
Starting at €170/$180/$400/, our medical practitioners assess each patient to give an accurate cost based on their individual factors. We offer free consultations to assess your needs and to listen and address any questions or concerns you have about our treatments and protocols.
Book a consultation with one of our trusted medical professionals to find out more about how botox can enhance your already beautiful smile.
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To get the best results from your Botox treatments, it’s essential that you follow the proper aftercare protocols. One being that you avoid exercise after Botox.
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Botox is the most popular non-invasive cosmetic treatment. But as with any procedure, you need to follow the right pre and post care instructions for botox to get the best results. So today we’ll be answering some of the most asked questions about botox aftercare, with the help of Dr. Oisin Browne, who works out of our 15 Anne South St, Dublin Sisu Clinic location.
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