Dentist in Bay Shore NY

 

They say the best accessory that a person can wear on any occasion is a genuine smile.  Some people, however, can’t find any truth in this saying. While gummy smiles, or excessive gingival display, is only an aesthetic complication, we can’t deny the fact that it does hurt people’s self-esteem.

 

Many individuals with excessive gingival display agree to spend money on cosmetic dental procedures to correct their smiles because they feel self-conscious. On the other hand, there are also people, with this aesthetic condition, who are not acquainted with cosmetic treatments (often involving surgery) that can improve their smiles.

 

What is a Gummy Smile?

 

Before going over the causes of a gummy smile, let us first learn about what it is.

A smile is usually considered to be gummy if it reveals at least 4 millimeters of gum tissue. Aside from the excessive gingival display, this can be attributed to the following perceivable factors:

 

·         Teeth size and shape

·         Lip size and shape

·         Position of the upper teeth and jaw

·         Upper lip movement (often caused by hyperactive muscles)

 

Causes of a Gummy Smile

 

  • Hyperactive muscles that control how your upper lip moves could cause it to rise higher than usual exposing more of your gum tissue.
  • Abnormal teeth growth covered by gum tissue, which makes the teeth appear shorter than they really are, could be another cause of excessive gingival display.
  • Abnormal growth of your upper jaw bone in your early developing stages, such as an excessive swelling of the gum tissue, could have affected the appearance of your smile.
  • Bruxism or excessive grinding of teeth could lead to tooth and gum disproportion.

 

 

Conclusion

It is true that a smile’s appeal is mostly subjective with different kinds of people. What is untrue is the implication that you are self-centered for doing something to correct a gummy smile, especially if the aesthetic condition is making an impact on your self-esteem, emotional well-being, and comfort. Remember, we all have the right to feel confident and feel good about ourselves.