A perfect smile is not the result of just all white crowns and white teeth. The amount of gum tissue on display and its specific distribution are major contributors. Take a look at your own smile – do you show too much gum?
At Pimlico Dental, we take a step back and treat not just your teeth, but your whole smile. Your teeth, gums, lips, facial proportions should all be in perfect harmony. Whether we are treating one tooth or ten, these principles are timeless and should be practised at all progressive surgeries.
Outlined below are some causes of excessive gum tissue and how a simple gum lift by itself can correct or drastically improve your smile. We can create the perfect framework for your teeth, veneers or crowns to sit in behind your lips, then supervise the periodontal specialist to deliver the exact specifications for your smile. We believe teamwork is key.
Short upper lip – When the distance between your nose and the upper lip is too short, and therefore not covering the gums and teeth at rest or when smiling.
Altered Eruption (Passive or Active) – Occurs when teeth are in the correct position but are covered with too much gum and bone.
Super-eruption – Your teeth never stop moving and shifting, and only stop when something is in their way, normally the opposing tooth. When the opposing tooth is missing or shorter, the upper tooth will grow downward, bringing the gums and bone with it.
The other cause of super-eruption would be a mis-match in jaw sizes, where the upper jaw is larger than the lower. This would result in front teeth drifting down because again nothing is stopping them. An overbite is normally the cause and is simply treated with orthodontics and sometimes surgery.
Hyper-mobile upper lip – The muscles you use to smile with sometimes pull your upper lip higher than average, exposing your gums at the front and normally toward the back. A simple temporary solution would be using Botox to tack the lips down slightly, lasting 4-6 months. The permanent solution would normally be a gum lift with or without specialist intervention.
AVME (Vertical Maxillary Excess) – During development your upper jaw could grow longer than it should, meaning the distance from the chewing surfaces of the teeth and the floor of the nose is longer than the average. As a result the upper jaw sits lower in the frame of your smile. A simple solution would be a gum lift. The most documented solution would be orthodontics and maxillary impaction with a maxillo-facial surgeon.
Before we can proceed with such detailed treatment, we request all our patients to have a comprehensive consultation with our dentists. A accurately diagnosed and consulted patient is the key to successful results.
Our unique examination, consultation and written treatment plan includes a thorough assessment of every aspect of your oral health. Please contact us to find out more and book your initial appointment.
