Gummy smile

    A gummy smile, or excessive gingival display, means more gum shows above the upper teeth during smiling than a person prefers. It is an aesthetic description rather than a disease. The cause may lie in the gums, teeth, upper lip, jaw or a combination.

    Last reviewed: November 20263 sources

    What you may notice

    • A broad band of gum above the upper teeth when smiling
    • A short-looking upper lip during smile
    • Small-looking tooth crowns
    • A highly mobile upper lip
    • Vertical facial or jaw proportions that increase gum display

    Why it can happen

    Possible causes include altered tooth eruption, excess gum tissue, short clinical crowns, a hypermobile or short upper lip and vertical maxillary excess. Correct assessment matters because treatments aimed at lip movement will not correct a skeletal or gum-related cause.

    What may help

    Options depend on the cause and may include periodontal treatment, orthodontics, botulinum toxin for selected hypermobile lips, lip repositioning or orthognathic surgery. Effects, durability and risk differ substantially. A dental and facial assessment should precede treatment, and temporary reduction of lip movement may affect smile dynamics.

    When to consult

    Consult a dentist, orthodontist, periodontist or maxillofacial specialist for cause-based assessment. New gum swelling, bleeding, pain or tooth mobility needs dental care rather than cosmetic treatment.

    Related options

    2 options

    Treatments

    Surgical procedures

    Evidence and sources

    1. Dym H, Pierre R 2nd. Diagnosis and treatment approaches to a gummy smile. Dent Clin North Am. 2020;64(2):341-349. doi: 10.1016/j.cden.2019.12.003.
    2. Rasteau S, Savoldelli C, Winter C, et al. Botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of excessive gingival display: a systematic review. J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022;123(6). PMID: 35577306.
    3. Vergara-Buenaventura A, Mendoza-Geng A, Meza-Mauricio J, et al. Clinical efficacy of lip repositioning technique and its modifications for the treatment of gummy smile: systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Oral Investig. 2022;26(6):4243-4261. doi: 10.1007/s00784-022-04467-0.