Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Solutions For A Gummy Smile

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Solutions for that Gummy Smile

As a dentist I look at the mouth as a stage. The teeth are the actors and actresses, the gums are the scenery and the lips are the curtain. With some mouths the curtain raises very low just allowing the teeth to be shown when they smile. Other mouths the curtain raises so high that it creates a “gummy smile”. Some people just can’t stand that look, they become self-conscious and want to change the way they look when they smile.

So what can you do to change this image? In some cases a referral for periodontal plastic surgery will solve the puzzle. The periodontist has the ability to change the position of the gum to make the teeth have a longer appearance and show less gums. There are also procedures where the lip can be “tacked” in place so that the “curtain doesn’t rise that high”. In mild cases a laser might be used to remove a small amount of gum tissue, again to make the tooth look longer.

The result is the stage is set to give the audience the performance that they are looking for. If you have any questions regarding how to get rid of that “gummy smile, please give us a call at 561-394-9000. We will arrange an appointment to make your beautiful smile a reality.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.