Gummy Smile

Normally, the upper lip contour only reaches the gum line when smiling. The term gummy smile is used when more than 3mm of gum is visible when smiling, which can result in an aesthetic disproportion between the lip, gums and teeth. With a very pronounced gummy smile, too much gum may be visible even when the mouth is slightly open.

This can have various causes: An upper jaw that is too long, an upper lip that is too short, a lip lifting muscle that is too active, teeth that are too short or even gums that are too thick can lead to a Gummy Smile; sometimes there is a combination of several causes.

Julia Roberts probably has the most famous gummy smile in the world – it has even become a kind of trademark for the Hollywood actress. But not everyone can pull it off like Julia Roberts, and not everyone finds it as attractive. Many people find their own smile embarrassing, their self-confidence suffers, and they feel insecure in social contact. Deliberately avoiding smiling or trying to show their gums less through trained facial expressions has an irritating effect on other people and lacks the positive effect of laughter on their own mood.

But that doesn't have to be the case: With a simple treatment, a gummy smile can be corrected in just a few minutes. It is usually sufficient to relax the muscles of the upper lip with an injection. Sometimes, however, the upper lip also needs to be filled in a little so that it closes roundly at the top when smiling, making the smile engaging and aesthetically perfect again.