Can Braces Help a Gummy Smile?
When too much gum tissue shows, it can make the smile look unbalanced. In situations where a gummy smile is caused by the position of the teeth, orthodontic treatment can help.
At Smile Montreal, Dr. Charles Casey and Dr. Patrick Casey offer braces for a gummy smile to patients in and around Montreal, QC. To find out if orthodontic treatment is right for improving your smile, we welcome you to schedule a consultation.
In the meantime, we’d like to take a closer look at how braces can help improve the appearance of gummy smiles.
About Gummy Smiles
A gummy smile describes a smile in which more gum tissue than desired shows. Gummy smiles can have many causes. Some of these include:
- Small teeth: A smile may appear overly gummy when the teeth themselves are small or short.
- Upper lip issues: The upper lip may affect the appearance of the gums. A short upper lip may not come down far enough, revealing more gum than average when smiling.
- Gingival hyperplasia: Gingival hyperplasia is when too much gum tissue grows around the teeth. It can happen with the use of certain medications or poor oral hygiene.
- Skeletal issue: Sometimes gummy smiles are caused by skeletal issues with the upper jaw. This can affect the position of the teeth, causing the gums to appear too large. A large upper jaw or one that sticks out too far can also affect the gum’s appearance. For some people, this makes the gums appear to project out when they smile or talk.
Braces Can Help Gummy Smiles Caused by Skeletal Issues
For those whose gummy smile is caused by the jaw or the position of the teeth pushing the gums outward, braces may be a good option for improving the appearance of a gummy smile.
Orthodontic treatment, including traditional braces and Invisalign®, can help bring the teeth into proper alignment and correct jaw issues, like an overbite. Correcting such issues with orthodontics can pull protruding teeth and gums back to a more desirable position, helping to reduce the appearance of a gummy smile.
How Do Braces Improve Gummy Smiles?
It’s important to note that braces are not suitable for treating all gummy smiles. For our Montreal patients who have gummy smiles due to their jaw or position of their teeth, braces can bring the teeth into proper alignment to improve the appearance of a gummy smile.
Braces change the position of the teeth using a system of brackets attached to the teeth and connected by wire. The wire is tightened in small increments over time to gently adjust the alignment of the teeth and until the desired position is achieved.
By correcting the position of the teeth, the teeth and gums will no longer stick out, reducing the appearance of the gums and improving the alignment of the teeth.
Contact Smile Montreal
If you are unhappy with the appearance of your smile, our dentists can create a treatment plan to address your specific needs and goals. To schedule a consultation, call our Montreal practice at (514) 937-6558.