Say Goodbye to Your Gummy Smile

Pros:

• Costs less per treatment: It may not take many units of Botox to see results. Less product equals more money in your wallet.
• Effective: Getting Botox injected in the right spot by a professional administrator like Dr. Mansoor can create the desired impact.
• Minimally invasive: You can go back to regular activities shortly after treatment. There’s no need to take time for recovery.
• Quick: Botox can safely fix a gummy smile in minutes.

Cons:

• Can only do so much: Botox can work wonders, but it can’t move your jaw or perform an operation. If your gummy smile is severe, you may need more than a cosmetic approach.
• Costs add up: One injection of Botox may be affordable. Budgeting for a lifetime of these can lose its luster.
• Temporary: Unlike surgery, Botox does not last indefinitely. You’ll need injections every three to six months to ensure results remain intact.

One of the advantages to working with us is having such a knowledgeable dentist on staff. Our gummy smile surgery results are quite dramatic! Dr. Mansoor uses her expertise and resources to carefully examine your teeth. Based on your health and exam results, she determines the best course of treatment.

If surgery is the most viable option to correct your severe gummy smile, you’ll be given all the details. Concerns will be addressed. Questions will be answered. You can decide if you want to move forward with this type of gummy smile treatment.

Technology can come to your aid if you suffer from a gummy smile. Dr. Mansoor expertly uses the Waterlase laser to perform gingivoplasties. She gently removes excess gums and contours the gum line. Now teeth are the primary focus of the smile instead of attention-hogging gums.

This process of crown lengthening can be quick and painless. The laser’s powerful light and water replace harsh scalpels and drills used in surgery. Bleeding is prevented through cauterizing. Precision reduces risk of infection.

The Waterlase tool is a modern marvel. This laser may even accomplish better results than surgery without causing pain. While a local anesthetic may be applied, it may not even be necessary. Just like the procedure, any recovery time goes by in a flash.

Every mouth is different. The cost for Botox depends on the number of units used. A slight gummy smile or a couple of teeth with excessive gum tissue will not cost as much as correcting an entire gummy smile.

Smiles by Hanna makes cosmetic injections affordable. If you buy one syringe of Botox, we offer 20 percent off the second syringe when purchased at the same time.

Please Note: special and rates are subject to change without notice.

There is not one set answer to this question. Costs vary based on the condition causing your gummy smile, the extent of the condition, if there are any related issues and type of procedure chosen.

The cost of a Waterlase gingivoplasty may range from anywhere from $500 to $5,000 depending on how many teeth need treatment. Lip repositioning surgery is roughly comparable in price.

Orthognathic surgery is much more complex. This type of surgery generally starts at about $20,000.

Correcting a gummy smile is considered cosmetic, so insurance typically does not cover this procedure. We are pleased to be able to offer an in-office discount and a payment plan through CareCredit.

An estimated 25 percent of Americans feel their smiles have unfavorable gum to teeth ratios. Why do some smiles wind up looking too gummy?

• Genetics: You fight an uphill battle when combatting DNA. While not harmful, hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is rare condition that can disfigure the mouth with supersize gums.
• Health: Certain medical conditions may trigger excess gum growth such as hormonal imbalances, specifically related to puberty or pregnancy. Leukemia, carcinoma and granuloma may have a similar effect. Not getting enough of the proper vitamins could also lead to excessive gum display.
• Jaw formation: When jaws don’t align, trouble can arise. A severe gummy smile can develop when the upper jawbone grows out more than the lower jaw.
• Side effects: Some medications and drugs can cause gummy smiles. If you take medicine to combat seizures, prevent high blood pressure or keep your immune system in check, you could be at risk for developing gingival hyperplasia. Prescription drugs like Adderall and Ritalin, as well as street drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine, can all be culprits.
• Small teeth: Sometimes genetics gives you features that do no favors. Tiny teeth can give the appearance of excessive gums.
• Tooth formation: If one or more of your permanent teeth erupted improperly, the gums can appear more prominent. Luckily, we successfully treat altered passive eruption (APE) at Smiles by Hanna.
• Upper lip issues: If your upper lip is hypermobile or too short, it could be working against you. When you smile or laugh, this lip may expose too much of your gums. These cases can really see the impact of Botox for gummy smile.