GINGIVAL RECONTOURING
WHAT IS A GUMMY SMILE?
A gummy smile is one in which too much gum tissue is visible when a person smiles. While this is highly subjective, the most appropriate amount of gum tissue to show in a full smile is about 1-2 mm. In other words, your teeth should occupy about 90% of your smile and gum tissue should only occupy about 10% of your smile.
WHAT CAUSES GUMMY SMILE?
Several different things can cause gummy smiles. The most common cause is simply excess gum tissue around the necks of the teeth in either children or adults. This is easy to resolve by removing the excess tissue with a soft tissue laser. Another cause is vertical overgrowth of the upper jaw.
HOW ARE GUMMY SMILES TREATED?
This can either be treated by intruding the entire upper arch with TADs, or by moving the upper jaw surgically. Finally, a gummy smile can be the result of long-term wear of the upper teeth, such that the teeth supererupt bringing the gum tissue with them. This can be effectively corrected with braces and TADs.
BIOLASE® EZLASE™ DIODE LASER SYSTEM
The EZLase™ is a diode laser system that was developed to recontour soft tissues without the cost and invasiveness of traditional periodontal surgery. EZLase™ procedures are performed using a high strength topical anesthetic to recontour gum tissue on orthodontics patients with gummy smiles (gingivectomy), level uneven gingival margins (gingivoplasty), or remove heavy muscular attachments (frenectomy). It also excels at treating cold sores by greatly reducing the amount of discomfort and time required to heal.
In addition, the EZLase™ has been FDA approved for temporary relief of stiffness and minor muscle and joint pain around the jaw. It also offers fast and easy teeth whitening in only 20 minutes! We use this technology because is quick, painless, and doesn’t require a referral to another specialist.
Do you have gummy smile, or uneven gingival margins? Call 214-378-5555 now or click to make an appointment today with the highly qualified Dallas, Texas orthodontist, Dr. Jason B. Cope at Cope Orthodontics in University Park’s Snider Plaza.