Gum Reshaping

Gum Contouring for Gummy Smiles

MAKE AN ENQUIRY

If your gums feel as though they are constantly on display, it can make you feel self-conscious about your appearance. In many cases, it can stop you from living your life to the fullest. 

Help is at hand. At The London Smile Clinic, we offer a range of treatment options for treating gummy smiles. These include: 

  • Surgical gum lifts
  • Laser gum lifts
  • Botox

In conjunction with all of these treatments, we also offer veneers and bonding to really fine-tune your smile. 

The unique approach that we use for treating gummy smiles at The London Smile Clinic makes use of a combination of techniques to provide the perfect result with no pain and minimal healing time.

Duration 1 Visit

Case studies

GET STARTED

Types of Gummy Smile

There are no exact scientific definitions of what a gummy smile is, however, if you feel that your gum line is too large, then we’ll find the right treatment options for you.

The amount of gum that you see in your smile will be dictated by the following: 

  • The shape and size of your teeth.
  • The angle that your jaw sits at in comparison to the rest of your face.
  • How your lips move when smiling.

If you have three to four millimetres of exposed gum, this is disproportionate and will result in a gummy smile.

What Causes a Gummy Smile?

The causes of gummy smiles may relate to the teeth, gums, lips, or jaw and identifying the specific reason for the appearance of your smile will be important in ensuring we provide you with the correct treatment. The causes of a gummy smile that are most common include:

  • Gingival hyperplasia or hypertrophy – this is an enlargement of the gum tissue. In some cases, this can be caused by medications that suppress the immune system, prevent seizures, or treat blood pressure. 
  • A hyperactive lip muscle can raise the lip up too far, which exposes the gums.
  • Genetics.
  • Maxillary excess – this is an overgrowth of the jaw that causes gums to protrude.
  • A short upper lip that doesn’t cover your gums.
  • Teeth that appear small compared to the gums.
  • The gum tissue partially covers teeth that appear shorter than normal.

In many cases, prevention is not possible due to genetic factors, however, with the right treatment, we can address the appearance of your gummy smile.

The Benefits of a Gum Lift and Contouring

A gum lift can feel like a new lease of life, allowing you to smile confidently without the embarrassment of your overbearing gums. 

In addition to gaining a new beautiful smile, one of the biggest benefits of the treatment offered at The London Smile Clinic is that it is pain-free!

Treatment Options for a Gummy Smile

When you enter your initial consultation at The London Smile Clinic, we’ll take the time to tailor a treatment plan to your needs. Our dentist will be able to reshape, redefine, and enhance your smile – with minimal pain involved.

Surgical Gum Lift and Contouring

When your gums cover too much of your teeth, we may carry out a gingivectomy. This cosmetic dental procedure is also referred to as gum contouring. The treatment involves removing excess gum tissue. 

We’ll begin by providing you with a local anaesthetic so that the procedure will be painless. Once your gums have become numb, we’ll gently refine and reshape your gums. This will reveal more of the surface of your teeth. 

Often, this can be completed in one session, however, we may need you to come back after a week. The results of surgical gum lifts are permanent, and you won’t need to worry about your gums growing back 

Laser Gum Lift and Contouring

Another option for removing excess gum from your teeth uses a laser. 

A laser gum reshaping treatment aims to contour and reshape the gums to make them look neater and smaller in proportion to the teeth. It’s a simple procedure that can usually be completed in one visit to The London Smile Clinic.

The dentist will use a laser to sculpt the gums, removing excess tissue as they go. The laser can seal the blood vessels automatically, which helps to reduce swelling and bleeding after.

The process is virtually pain-free, with most of the discomfort being felt after the treatment itself. You can take over-the-counter painkillers to help with this.

Veneers and Bonding for Gummy Smiles

To improve the balance between your teeth and gums, veneers can be tailor-made for you. This non-invasive cosmetic treatment makes teeth appear larger in situations where they used to look too small. 

Veneers are fine porcelain shells that fit over your existing tooth, proving a natural appearance. If you opt to have veneers, we’ll take impressions and images of your teeth in an initial consultation, and have them made up by our artistic and highly-skilled technicians. 

Once they are ready, we’ll apply the veneers in just one appointment. 

Bonding is a straightforward cosmetic procedure that enhances the appearance of your smile. Using dental composite, we’ll skillfully reshape your teeth. The materials that we’ll use will perfectly match the colour of your teeth. 

Once we’re happy with how your teeth look, we’ll cure the composite using a special light, leaving you with a strong and beautiful smile. 

Botox & Lip Repositioning  for Gummy Smiles

If the positioning of your lips is an issue, we can use injections of botulinum toxin type A, better known as ‘Botox.’ 

Botox will temporarily relax your lip’s elevator muscles. This stops your upper lip from rising so much whenever you smile. The results of having a botox injection will generally last for three to four months. 

Botox is a safe procedure that will also amplify the volume of your lips while reducing vertical lines around your mouth. 

While you will need to come back for further injections after the effects have subsided, botox is more cost-effective and less invasive than surgical options. 

Put Your Smile in Our Safe Hands

The London Smile Clinic’s cosmetic dentist Dr Tim Bradstock-Smith has been creating beautiful smiles for over three decades. Dentist to the stars, Dr Bradstock-Smith is the only dentist in the UK to hold both the BACD and AACD accreditation. 

Dr Bradstock-Smith is a pioneering dentist and author of articles about the state-of-the-art procedures developed at The London Smile Clinic that quickly and predictably reshape gums.  

A perfectionist with a passion for cosmetic dentistry, your gummy smile will be expertly improved with the exact artistry that Dr Bradstock-Smith has become synonymous with. 

Gum Lifts at The London Smile Clinic

If you’re thinking about undergoing a gum lift treatment and want to find out more, get in touch today to see how we can transform your smile.

Reviews
From Our Patients

4.8 based on 191 Reviews

Sunita Day reviewed on

Tim Bradstock-Smith has to be the best & most gifted, genius, cosmetic dentist there ever was. I’m so incredibly thrilled with the quality & outcome of my new smile. It’s far better than I could have ever imagined!

Kam Dehal reviewed on

At the smile clinic they are friendly and efficient. My appointments are on time and hassle free. After 20 years of avoiding dentists, I am now a real advocate.

Tara K Sanchez reviewed on

Absolutely love my new smile � thank you London Smile Clinic it’s been an amazing journey!

How can we help you?

10 Secrets to a
Perfect Smile

(avoid all the costly, painful, irreversible pitfalls).

10 Secrets to
a Perfect Smile

(avoid all the costly, painful,
irreversible pitfalls).

DOWNLOAD NOW

Download our free guide to a perfect smile

Call us today