Cause based diagnosis and correction options for patients who show more gum than they want when they smile.
At Dental Implants & Cosmetics, we approach gummy smile correction by identifying the actual cause first. The treatment that follows is specific to your situation, not a default procedure applied to every case.
Serving patients from Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, Davie, Weston, Sunrise, and across Broward County.
The cause matters more
than the appearance
A smile that shows significant gum tissue is often described simply as gummy, but that description tells you nothing about why it looks that way. And the why is what determines what will actually work to correct it.
Some patients have excess gum tissue covering otherwise full length teeth. Others have teeth that never fully erupted. Some have a lip that rises unusually high when smiling. Some have teeth worn short by grinding. Some have jaw structure that positions the gum line lower than ideal.
Each cause has a different solution. Applying the same procedure to every gummy smile produces inconsistent and sometimes disappointing results.
Six causes,
each with its own solution
Identifying which cause or combination of causes applies to your situation is the first and most important step. No treatment recommendation is made before this is clear.
Excess gum tissue volume
The gum itself covers more of the tooth than it should. This is one of the more straightforward causes and typically responds well to soft tissue reshaping without bone involvement.
Delayed passive eruption
In some patients the teeth did not fully emerge through the gum during development, leaving excess tissue over what are actually full length teeth. This cause often requires both soft tissue and bone reshaping.
Hyperactive upper lip
A lip that rises significantly when smiling can expose gum tissue that would be undetectable at rest. This is a muscle and movement issue, not a gum issue, and may be addressed with injectables in qualifying cases.
Short or worn teeth
When teeth have been worn down over time, the gum line stays where it is while the biting edge recedes, making the gum appear more prominent. Restoring tooth length with crowns or veneers may be part of the solution.
Bite and jaw structure
Vertical maxillary excess, a jaw position issue, can cause the gums to sit lower than ideal relative to the lips. This type of case may require orthognathic evaluation for a definitive solution.
Orthodontic factors
Teeth that have been intruded or moved during aligner or brace treatment can alter how the gum line appears. Gum reshaping after orthodontic treatment addresses residual tissue irregularities.
Multiple paths,
one right answer for your case
We do not present gummy smile treatment as a one size fits all procedure. The options below are matched to the specific cause identified in your evaluation.
Gum contouring
When excess tissue volume is the primary cause, soft tissue reshaping reveals the full natural tooth surface. Laser or scalpel techniques are selected based on tissue characteristics and extent of reshaping needed.
Crown lengthening
When bone position drives the tissue location, crown lengthening addresses the structural cause and produces a more lasting result than soft tissue reshaping alone in those cases.
Lip repositioning or injectables
When the cause is a hyperactive upper lip rather than actual excess gum, approaches that address lip position or movement may be more appropriate than gum tissue procedures.
Restorative treatment
Worn or shortened teeth that make the gum line appear larger may benefit from crowns or veneers that restore the natural tooth length, changing the proportion without touching the gum at all.
Orthodontic aligners
When bite factors contribute to how the smile appears, aligner treatment may be part of a broader plan that includes or precedes other gummy smile correction procedures.
When excess tissue volume is the primary cause, soft tissue reshaping reveals the full natural tooth surface. Laser or scalpel techniques are selected based on tissue characteristics and extent of reshaping needed.
Gummy smile questions,
answered honestly
Gummy smile correction in
Plantation, Florida
Located in Plantation, Florida, Dental Implants & Cosmetics serves patients from Fort Lauderdale, Davie, Weston, Sunrise, Coral Springs, and across Broward County. Your evaluation starts with identifying the actual cause of your gummy smile.
Your smile has a story.
Let's design
what comes next.
Begin with a private consultation designed to help you understand your options clearly and confidently with no pressure and no obligation.