If you have a gummy smile, you might feel self-conscious about your smile. The psychological effects of this fear and anxiety shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you are wanting to fix your gummy smile, there are options that you have if you speak to your dentist.
One of the main ways you can fix your gummy smile is through mouth reconstruction surgery, performed by a qualified dental surgeon. The causes of gummy smile are many, and the surgical interventions will be different depending on the causes and the bone structure of your face. For this reason, we generally do not give estimates for cost to surgically fix a gummy smile.
If you opt for surgery, it is important to speak with your dentist about the costs upfront. Because a gummy smile is generally considered a cosmetic and not a physical problem, oftentimes, your dental insurance won’t cover the cost of any treatment, and surgery can get expensive. For this reason, work with your dentist and your insurance company to see if any parts of the procedure will get covered by your insurance.
Your dentist will also be able to talk with you about any financing options available through their office. These options can include payment plans, credit programs like CareCredit, or personal loans.
Are there alternatives to surgery?
Having surgery, no matter how simple and short-lived, is never a pleasant thing. In addition, some people, especially those who suffer from dental phobia, have problems getting their hands in their mouths for professional teeth cleaning, let alone for an operation. If the cost of surgery is daunting to you, you might discuss less expensive and invasive alternatives for fixing your gummy smile.
Exercises to reduce the gummy smile
Adequate therapy is required to resolve a smile with exposed gums. There is surgery, which is a more invasive solution, as well as orthodontic techniques which represent an adequate solution for those who are afraid of the most challenging dynamics. In other words, a gum smile must be treated by a professional dentist.
There are, however, a series of exercises that can help mitigate the effect of this condition. They are exercises to do in front of the mirror and which allow you to manage the facial muscles in order to hide the cosmetic defect. Target? Learn to smile without showing your gums. Clearly these do not represent real solutions and can only be useful for a very slight gummy smile.
Botulinum toxin injections
Botox, commonly used to reduce blemishes such as wrinkles, is also used to try to improve the gummy smile. The botulinum toxin injected into the root of the nose acts on the orbicular muscle, relaxing it. In this way the levator muscles lose strength and tone, failing to fully lift the upper lip.
Botox injections are indeed an effective way to solve the problem of gummy smile, but unfortunately they are temporary. In fact, the effect of this toxin can last up to 6 months. After this period of time, the situation returns to the starting point.