Gummy smile is the condition in which when a person smiles, too much gum is visible and the teeth appear smaller than desirable. It is an aesthetic problem, not an oral health problem.
When there is a real gummy smile, treatment always requires surgery. In these cases the aesthetic recontouring of the gums is performed. Depending on the case, it may be necessary to remove only the gum by means of a gingivectomy, although many times it is also necessary to remove some bone.
Gummy smile surgery complications
Gum surgery for the gummy smile presents the complications common to any surgical intervention: inflammation and pain that are managed with medication and the application of ice locally in the days following the treatment.
Care to follow after gummy smile surgery
After gummy smile surgery, the following postoperative care is recommended:
- Do not eat with the operated area.
- Do not eat anything hot until the swelling is gone.
- Put ice for the first 48 hours.
- Do not do physical exercise for 15 days to avoid discomfort and loosening a stitch.
- Use an antiseptic to disinfect the operated area.
Contraindications of the gummy smile treatment
This operation is not recommended when the gummy smile is not caused by teeth. It may be due for example to a short or hypermobile upper lip or excessive vertical maxillary growth, the fundamental is a good diagnosis.