Gummy Smiles Treatment in Long Island, NY
Click above to see reviews.
A gummy smile—when a bit more of your gums show than you’d like when you smile—can make some people feel self-conscious, even though it’s completely harmless. The good news is, there are gentle, effective treatments that can help bring out the smile you love, creating a more natural balance between your teeth and gums.
To make the smile look better, excess gum tissue is removed (often with a laser) to expose all the beautiful enamel nature gave you. This is called a gingivectomy or a gummy smile treatment. The following photos show examples of this periodontal treatment.
How Dr. Scharf Fixes Gummy Smiles
During your exam, Dr. David Scharf will evaluate your teeth, gums, and overall oral health to identify the cause of your gummy smile. This may involve a simple visual exam or more advanced diagnostics like digital impressions and X-rays to assess your jawbone and tooth roots. Several treatment options are available, depending on your needs:
Laser gum treatment
A laser gently removes excess gum tissue while preserving healthy areas. It’s often used to treat gum disease—a common cause of gummy smiles—and helps create a more balanced gum line.
Maxillofacial surgery
In more complex cases, surgery may be needed to reposition the jaw and achieve a more natural smile.
Orthodontic treatment
Braces or clear aligners can shift teeth into better alignment, which may reduce the appearance of a gummy smile.
These are just a few of the possible solutions. Dr. Scharf will help you explore both surgical and non-surgical options to find the treatment that’s right for your smile.
Before and After Photos
Before photos are on the left and after photos are on the right. Both women did not like their “gummy smiles.” The excess gum tissue was removed and that brought a more natural balance to their smiles.
This patient had great-looking teeth but too much gum tissue and some asymmetry. Simply removing the excess gum tissue made a huge difference.
These pictures speak for themselves. This patient was thrilled with her new smile after a gingivectomy that removed the excess gum tissue.
This patient’s teeth are short from years of grinding (bruxism) and not protecting his teeth with a night guard. Following crown lengthening, porcelain restorations were placed. He can’t stop smiling!!
This patient had teeth that were both too short and discolored. A combination of esthetic crown lengthening followed by teeth greatly enhanced his smile.
What Causes Gummy Smiles?
A gummy smile has many causes. From having a tooth erupt to the development and growth of your upper jaw bone, many unpredictable factors can result in your smile being gummy. Here are some of the causes of gummy smiles:
- Abnormal teeth eruption: When your teeth erupt improperly in your gums, it can lead to the majority of the tooth being covered by excessive gum tissue. This results in your teeth looking short even though they’re likely a proper length.
- Hyperactive upper lip muscle: A hyperactive upper lip muscle can cause your lip to lift higher than usual when you smile, revealing more gum tissue than normal.
- Upper jaw bone growth and development: If your upper jaw developed with a prominent or forward-positioned shape during growth, it can create a bulging effect that leads to a gummy-looking smile.
Make an Appointment
Dr. David Scharf and his team of dental professionals are here to help fix your gummy smile. We want you to smile proudly and be happy with it. We can reorient the gum tissue so your pearly whites shine through. Dr. David Scharf has dedicated himself to providing the best dental care possible to the people of Long Island, NY!
Long Island Gummy Smile Treatment
ADDRESS:
98 East Main Street
Babylon, NY 11702
Get Directions
PHONE: (631) 661-6633
OFFICE HOURS:
- Monday: 11:00AM to 8:00PM
- Tuesday: 9:00AM to 8:00PM
- Wednesday: 8:00AM to 5:00PM
- Thursday: 8:00AM to 5:00PM
- Friday: 8:00AM to 5:00PM