Gummy Smile

A gummy smile — technically known as excessive gingival display — is when a significant amount of gum tissue is visible above the upper teeth when smiling. Most people show a small amount of gum when they smile fully, which is entirely normal. A gummy smile is generally considered present when four millimetres or more of gum is visible, though for many patients it is simply a matter of how they feel about their smile rather than a clinical threshold.

It is a common concern and one that patients often feel self-conscious about for years before seeking treatment. The cause is usually an overactive elevator muscle — the levator labii superioris alaeque nasi — which lifts the upper lip too high when smiling, exposing more of the gum than the patient would like. It can also be influenced by the size and shape of the teeth, the length of the upper lip, and the position of the jaw.

The good news is that for the majority of patients with a muscle-driven gummy smile, treatment is straightforward, effective and requires no surgery or recovery time.

Anti-wrinkle injections are the most effective non-surgical treatment for a gummy smile. Small, precise doses of botulinum toxin are placed into the elevator muscles of the upper lip, reducing their ability to lift the lip as high when smiling. The result is a smile that shows less gum — natural, balanced and in proportion. Treatment takes only a few minutes, results are visible within two weeks, and typically last three to four months.

This is a treatment that requires precision and experience — the upper lip muscles are small and closely situated, and the dose and placement need to be judged carefully to produce a natural result without affecting the movement of the lip in other expressions. It is a treatment our clinical team performs regularly and with confidence.

Treatments that may help: Anti-Wrinkle Injections.

Book a consultation with our clinical team, or explore our full range of treatments.