Transforming a Gummy Smile

By Dr. Helena Lee, Periodontist, Specialist Dental Group

Some people smile with a little bit of their gums showing but for some others, a significant amount of gums can be seen when they smile. Their teeth appear short in proportion to the rest of the gums, giving rise to the term “gummy smile.”

Gummy smiles may arise due to a number of factors including:

• abnormal eruption of the teeth resulting in excessive display of the gums;
• hyperactive lip muscles causing the upper lip to rise higher than normal when smiling;
• prominent upper jaw and position of the upper front teeth; or
• severely worn teeth, resulting in the teeth looking shorter relative to the gums.

Although people with gummy smiles may have healthy teeth and gums, they may be self-conscious about smiling. The good news is that there are options available to correct gummy smiles, depending on the cause of the gummy smile.

It may take between one week to a few months, depending on the patients’ dental condition, to complete treatment for gummy smiles. The most important aspect of treatment for gummy smiles is to have a clear communication between the dentist (in this case is the periodontist or gum specialist) and the patient. Sometimes, gummy smile treatment may also involve prosthodontists (for crowns and veneers), orthodontists (for braces) or oral surgeons when jaw surgery is required.

Proper maintenance and professional follow-up will be essential for a successful long term treatment outcome.



Specialist Dental Group is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). CAS members enjoy a special rate for dental services. For details, send an enquiry via www.specialistdentalgroup.com or call 6733 7883.