When people seek cosmetic dentistry treatment, it's most commonly because of the way their teeth look. Damaged, misaligned or discoloured teeth make a big contribution to the way you feel about yourself, and any problems can seriously affect the overall appearance of your smile.

But it's not always the teeth themselves that are the issue. A gummy smile is when an unusual amount of gum tissue shows, particularly around the upper teeth. To people who don't have this problem, it might not sound like anything to worry about. But for those who do, it can cause low self-esteem and a reluctance to smile.

Luckily, it's not something you have to put up with forever if it's bothering you. Here are some of the ways a gummy smile can be treated.

Laser surgery

With this treatment, a cosmetic dentist will remove some of the excess gum tissue using a laser beam. Because of a laser's accuracy, they can achieve a precise and effective result.

Another benefit of laser surgery to treat a gummy smile is that it's relatively pain-free and can be done quite quickly. However, not all dentists offer this service, so it's not always easy to get.

Orthodontics

Instead of treating the gums, dentists can use orthodontic braces to move the teeth into a better position. Although it may sound like it wouldn't be effective, it's particularly useful when the gums are showing more than they should because teeth are too long or slightly out of position.

Using orthodontics means there's no need to remove any gum tissue, although sometimes it's used in conjunction with a surgical treatment, so less tissue needs to be reshaped or removed.

Gum sculpting

This is one of the older methods of correcting a gummy smile, and it involves using a scalpel to reshape the gums, so they look more aesthetically pleasing.

It sounds unpleasant to some people, but the dentist will use an anaesthetic to make you more comfortable. Some dentists use a combination of traditional gum surgery and lasers to achieve the best result.

Lip repositioning

With this surgery, the muscles that control one or both lips are repositioned slightly so that they don't pull back as far when you smile, concealing the gums more effectively.

It's a good alternative for cases where any of the other methods are unsuitable or undesirable, such as when gum surgery could have a negative effect on your oral health. For more information, contact a company like DI Dental Implant Centre.

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