Lip Travel Reduction
One technique, the lip travel reduction technique sometimes called hypermobile lip surgery, is necessary when a patient has a gummy smile and when the teeth are properly sized. Taking away gum tissue is not the answer for these patients, as it would only make their teeth appear unusually large. This procedure is a cosmetic procedure and reduces the travel of the lip, so that the gum does not show excessively when they are smiling. We restrict the "movement" of your upper lip when you smile with a laser procedure. Your upper lip simply does not move as far up when you smile, therefore your gums do not show as much. Another awesome perk when this technique is used: your upper lip is more full!
Esthetic Crown Lengthening
Another technique to fix a gummy smile is called a esthetic crown lengthening. This technique is used when your teeth are small and making them larger would be appropriate. Often, people have the white enamel under all the extra gum tissue and do not need veneers or crowns when the crown lengthening is finished. Some people do not have white enamel hiding under the gum tissue, and will need veneers or crowns after the crown lengthening. We can measure and let you know whether you will need veneers or crowns, or if the crown lengthening alone will take care of your gummy smile.
BOTOX® Cosmetic
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to improve the look of moderate gummy smiles for a short period of time (temporary). BOTOX® Cosmetic is administered by a healthcare professional as a simple, nonsurgical treatment that is injected directly into the muscles of the upper lips. It works by blocking nerve impulses to the injected muscles. This reduces muscle activity that causes moderate gummy smiles.
Approximately 11.8 million1 BOTOX® Cosmetic procedures have been administered in the United States since 2002.