There are a variety of factors that can influence the overall aesthetic of someone’s smile. These may include the form and position of our teeth, as well as the appearance of our gingival tissue (gums). When your smile reveals excessive gum tissue that makes your upper teeth appear shorter, this is known as a “gummy smile”. If you are like many people with a gummy smile, you may feel your smile is unattractive, and you may hesitate to smile in public at all.
One of the most common causes of a gummy smile is a high hip line. Having a high hip line means your upper lip moves higher when you smile as compared to other people. A gummy smile can also result from the abnormal eruption of teeth or the manner in which your upper jaw bone has grown and developed.
Ideally, our smiles should reveal the least amount of gum tissue possible. However, the appropriate correction for a gummy smile will depend on what is causing it. If you have a gummy smile due to a short upper lip or overactive muscles, dermal fillers in Catonsville, MD, may help with minimizing the appearance of your gums without surgery.
