Several different causes, several different answers
A gummy smile can come from teeth that are short because the gum sits low over them, from a lip that lifts unusually high, from how the upper jaw developed, or from a combination.
Those causes do not share a treatment. Reshaping the gumline solves one of them and does nothing for another. Any practice that quotes you a fix before looking is guessing.
It is also worth saying that a gummy smile is not a health problem. If it does not bother you, nothing needs doing. This page exists for the people it does bother.
What we look at
- How much gum shows when you smile naturally
- Whether the teeth are short or the gum is low
- How far the upper lip lifts
- How the upper and lower teeth meet
- Gum health and whether tissue is inflamed
- Whether previous orthodontic work is a factor
How we approach it
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Working out the cause
Examination and photographs of your smile at rest and smiling. This is the step that decides everything after it.
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The realistic options
Which treatments would actually change what is bothering you, and which would not.
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A preview where possible
So you can see the proposed change before agreeing to it.
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Treatment or referral
If what you need is outside what we do here, we will tell you and point you to who does it.
Who you will see
Dr. Shayan Azimi looks after gummy smile correction at our Bishop Arts practice. You see the same dentist at every visit, so nobody starts your treatment over.
What it costs, and how people pay
Price depends on what you actually need, so we look first and tell you the number before anything starts. What we can tell you now is how it gets paid for.
- Insured. In network with most major PPO plans, and your benefits get checked before treatment is planned.
- Medicaid or CHIP. Both accepted, which a lot of Dallas practices will not do.
- No insurance. Our membership plan covers cleanings, exams and routine x-rays from $30 a month, with 20% off other treatment.
- Larger treatment. Cherry, Sunbit and HFD payment plans spread the cost.
Gummy Smile Correction questions
- What causes a gummy smile?
- Most often the gum sitting low over teeth that are a normal length, a lip that lifts higher than average, or the way the upper jaw developed. It can be more than one at once, which is why the examination matters more than the label.
- Can a gummy smile be fixed permanently?
- It depends on the cause. Some causes respond to a one-off treatment, others need something ongoing. You will get a straight answer for your situation rather than a general promise.
- Is a gummy smile a health problem?
- Usually not on its own. It becomes a health matter if the gum tissue is inflamed or overgrown, which is a different thing and does need treating.
- Does insurance cover this?
- Generally not when it is purely cosmetic. If there is a gum health component, part may be covered. We check before you commit.