Gummy Smile — Causes & Cosmetic Treatment Options
If you feel self-conscious about showing too much gum when you smile, you're experiencing what dentists call excessive gingival display — commonly known as a "gummy smile." It's not a health problem, but it can significantly affect your confidence. The good news is that modern cosmetic dentistry offers several effective treatments.
What Causes a Gummy Smile?
A gummy smile isn't caused by one thing. Understanding the cause is essential to choosing the right treatment:
Excess gum tissue. Sometimes the gums cover more of the tooth surface than normal, making teeth appear short even though the full tooth is there underneath. This is one of the most common causes and one of the easiest to treat.
Altered passive eruption. Your teeth may not have fully emerged through the gum tissue during development. The teeth are full-sized, but the gums didn't recede to their proper position.
Hyperactive upper lip. If your upper lip rises higher than average when you smile, it exposes more gum tissue. Your teeth and gums may be perfectly proportioned — the issue is the lip movement.
Upper jaw position. In some cases, the upper jawbone grew slightly longer than normal (vertical maxillary excess), pushing the gums and teeth further below the upper lip.
Tooth wear. Grinding or natural wear can make teeth shorter over time, changing the proportion of tooth to gum that's visible.
Treatment Options
Your cosmetic dentist will evaluate the cause and recommend the most appropriate treatment — or combination of treatments:
Gum contouring (crown lengthening). The most common treatment for excess gum tissue. Your dentist carefully reshapes the gumline using a laser or scalpel to expose more of the tooth surface. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, often in a single visit. Recovery takes about a week. Cost: $500-$3,000 depending on how many teeth are treated.
Porcelain veneers. After gum recontouring, veneers can be placed to create the ideal tooth shape, size, and proportion. Veneers are especially effective when the teeth are worn or uneven in addition to the gum issue.
Lip repositioning. For patients with a hyperactive upper lip, a minor surgical procedure can limit how high the lip rises when smiling. This is a less common but effective option for the right candidate.
Orthodontics. In some cases, Invisalign or braces can reposition teeth that have over-erupted, reducing the amount of visible gum tissue.
What to Expect at Your Consultation
During a cosmetic consultation at Summit Ridge Dental, your dentist will photograph your smile, measure the proportion of gum to tooth, evaluate your lip line, and determine the underlying cause. You'll see digital previews of what your smile could look like after treatment, so you can make an informed decision before committing.
Dr. Sarah Chen and Dr. Maria Vasquez both have extensive cosmetic dentistry experience and take a conservative approach — recommending only the treatment that's needed to achieve your goals. Learn more about cosmetic dentistry at Summit Ridge Dental.
"I always smiled with my lips closed in photos because I hated how much gum showed. Dr. Chen did gum contouring on my top six teeth and it completely changed how my smile looks. The procedure was painless and I was back to normal in a week. I can't stop smiling now."
Frequently Asked Questions
A gummy smile can be caused by excess gum tissue, teeth that didn't fully erupt, a hyperactive upper lip, or the way the upper jaw developed. A cosmetic consultation determines which cause applies to you.
Gum contouring costs $500-$3,000 depending on how many teeth are treated. Adding veneers costs $1,200-$2,500 per tooth. A consultation will clarify which treatments you need.
Gum contouring uses local anesthesia so you won't feel pain during the procedure. Most patients report mild soreness for a few days afterward. Sedation is available for extra comfort.
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