A gummy smile is when you show more gum than is generally accepted to be aesthetically pleasing, which will vary from person to person.

The amount of gum that you see in your smile will be dictated by:

• The shape and size of your teeth.
• The angle or your teeth or upper jaw in relation to your face.
• The length and shape of your upper lip, in addition to how your upper lip moves when smiling or laughing

A gum lift is when the gum is contoured to a higher, more aesthetic position. This technique utilises specialist equipment and is often a very straight-forward procedure, depending on the location of the underlying hard tissues.

The results of surgical gum lifts are permanent, and you won’t need to worry about your gums growing back

To improve the balance between your teeth and gums, veneers can be tailor-made for you. This non-invasive cosmetic treatment makes teeth appear larger in situations where they used to look too small.

Veneers are fine porcelain shells that fit over your existing tooth, proving a natural appearance. If you opt to have veneers, we’ll take impressions and images of your teeth in an initial consultation, and have them made up by our artistic and highly-skilled technicians.

Composite bonding is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that enhances the appearance of your smile. Using dental composite, your natural teeth will be skilfully reshaped. The composite perfectly matches the colour of the natural teeth.

If your gummy smile is related to the position of your upper lip on smiling or laughing, then the expert use botulinum toxin type A, better known as ‘Botox’, can make a huge impact.

Botox works by relaxing the muscles which raise your upper lip, thereby reducing the amount of gum display. The results of having a botox injection will generally last for three to four months.

Botox is a safe procedure that will also amplify the volume of your lips while reducing vertical lines around your mouth.

While you will need to come back for further injections after the effects have subsided, botox is more cost-effective and less invasive than surgical options. Please see our Botox section for further information or to contact us for a free of charge consultation.