A gummy smile is characterised by having short, square-looking teeth. This is a consequence of having too much gum on show when you smile. It’s a condition that affects approximately 15-25% of the population, so you’re not on your own.
Using a technique called gum contouring, a periodontist can address this excess gum tissue, to rebalance the aesthetic of your smile.
Here at Meliora Dental, we can also provide gum grafts to address smiles that have lost gum tissue, which can cause teeth to look longer than they should.
Excess gum tissue – this is when there is excess gum tissue present, causing teeth to appear smaller.
Shorter teeth – some individuals naturally have shorter teeth, which can make a normal amount of gum tissue appear out of balance with the teeth.
Tooth wear – when teeth become worn due to grinding or decay, this can throw the teeth out of aesthetic balance with the gums
Hyperactive upper lip – this is a genetic condition causing hyperactive activity of the upper lip. When the muscles in the upper lip are overactive, this can cause a lift in the lip when you smile, exposing more gum tissue. Using muscle relaxing injections, it’s possible to temporarily paralyse the signals between the nerve and the muscle in the upper lip, preventing it from rising too much (and exposing excess gum) when you smile.
Gum recession can be a clinical issue, arising as a result of gum disease. However, it can also come about due to brushing too hard.
Periodontal disease – periodontal disease (advanced gum disease) is the main reason for tooth loss in adults in the UK. Once gum disease has reached this stage, it literally eats away at your gum tissue, and without treatment, it starts to attack your jawbone too.
Bleeding gums when you brush and floss are tell-tale signs of periodontal disease. Once enough gum recession has occurred, teeth can become loose, and are likely to need extracting. However, when caught early enough, it’s possible to carry out gum recession treatment with a gum graft, to reintroduce healthy gum tissue.
Overenthusiastic toothbrushing – using a manual toothbrush with hard bristles and adopting an aggressive technique can cause gum tissue to erode. This becomes problematic for two reasons, as the tooth structure that sits underneath your gums is not protected by enamel.
This portion of tooth is called dentin, which is much weaker than enamel. Once this is exposed due to gum recession, your teeth become far more vulnerable to decay.
There is no better dental professional than a dentist with periodontal training when it comes to treating a gummy smile, or indeed gum recession.
Our resident periodontist Dr Namrata Sharma is experienced at performing gum contouring and gum grafts, using minimally invasive surgical techniques.
We use high-spec microscopes and tools that promote fast post-surgery healing. These tools also allow us to make minuscule keyhole-like incisions, giving Dr Namrata an excellent degree of dexterity and accuracy when she performs gum contouring.
Contact our friendly reception team if you’d like to explore the possibility of correcting a gummy smile, or gum recession.
In many instances, gum recession can go overlooked (it can be hard to spot incremental gum loss).
During your routine hygienist appointments at Meliora Dental, your hygienist will keep a close eye on the condition of your gums, and any developments that you might not be able to spot at home (gum recession being a common one).
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Dental Phobia Certified
Winner : AGC Case of the Year 2022
Orthodontics : Clear Aligner
Best Young Dentist 2021 Finalist
Best Young Dentist 2020 Finalist
As a result of an accident I had as a child my front tooth suffered some trauma and became discoloured over time. The tooth eventually broke last year which led to it being removed. I was referred to Kunal who took me through the various options I had. As functionality was the most important aspect...
As a child, I was given a fixed brace by a practice who showed very little care. These were removed after 9 months due to them being "unable to straighten anymore" leaving me unhappy with my teeth and a major open bite. As years went on, I became less and less confident with my teeth,...
Thank you for your hard work and I hope this testimonial reflects just how happy I am with my smile. The care and attention which I received during my smile makeover was far better than any I have previously experienced. Kunal and his team were amazing throughout the entire process. I had regular check-ups throughout,...
Kunal is a very approachable, informative and meticulous dentist. From the beginning of my last Invisalign journey, Kunal explained the procedure very clearly and thoroughly. He showed me a 3D image and how my teeth would change throughout the treatment, the length of the treatment and the possible cons of it, such as black triangles...
I was never conscious of my teeth much but over the years my teeth became more overcrowded, in particular my bottom teeth. I found myself smiling in photos with my mouth closed as I didn’t like the way my teeth looked this was something that over time I got even more conscious of and so...
Kunal and his team gave me the best experience throughout my transformation. Everything was explained all the way through the process and he even accommodated my lunch time appointments every 4 weeks! He always gave his honest opinions and made me feel at ease. He is such a perfectionist and wouldn’t let me leave my...
As a result of an accident I had as a child my front tooth suffered some trauma and became discoloured over time. The tooth eventually broke last year which led to it being removed. I was referred to Kunal who took me through the various options I had. As functionality was the most important aspect for a replacement for me we agreed an implant was the route to go. The tooth removal however left an element of damage to the natural bone so I had to undergo a bone graft to repair this. One year after the extraction (as 2 bone grafts were needed in the end) I'm now fitted with my implant and I can honestly say I have never been as proud to smile as I am today. From start to finish Kunal...
As a child, I was given a fixed brace by a practice who showed very little care. These were removed after 9 months due to them being "unable to straighten anymore" leaving me unhappy with my teeth and a major open bite. As years went on, I became less and less confident with my teeth, until I came across Kunal. From the first moment I walked into the practice, Kunal was very welcoming and talked me through every possible stage that would happen if I was to go ahead with treatment with zoom calls to show the perceived results and ensure I was happy to go ahead with treatment Kunal gave me a diagnosis of my open bite, which was behavioural, therefore instantly this behavioural trait was worked upon to receive the best results from...
Thank you for your hard work and I hope this testimonial reflects just how happy I am with my smile. The care and attention which I received during my smile makeover was far better than any I have previously experienced. Kunal and his team were amazing throughout the entire process. I had regular check-ups throughout, and each time Kunal would make sure I was happy, not just with the work that had already taken place, but with the direction my smile was headed. Kunal engaged in discussion with me about each aspect making sure I fully understood what would happen and giving me the chance to have my own input. This combined with his vast knowledge and incredible skill left me feeling fully relaxed and in safe hands. Each step was performed in meticulous detail,...
Kunal is a very approachable, informative and meticulous dentist. From the beginning of my last Invisalign journey, Kunal explained the procedure very clearly and thoroughly. He showed me a 3D image and how my teeth would change throughout the treatment, the length of the treatment and the possible cons of it, such as black triangles and what can be done to minimize them. Kunal made it clear from the beginning that as a dentist his interest was the function of the teeth, better oral hygiene, the bite etc. I learned so much from him regarding my own teeth, that it was my bottom teeth that was causing the misalignment on my top teeth, l have gum recession due to excess brushing and l was in danger of losing two teeth due to it! Things my...
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