Fixing a Gummy Smile: The Full Menu of Options

Diagnose first

A gummy smile has at least 4 possible causes — each with different best treatments.

Option 1: Botox into lip elevators

• 5-minute injection
• 3–4 months duration
• AED 800–1,500
• Best for: overactive upper lip

Option 2: Gum contouring (laser)

• Soft tissue reshaping
• Permanent (or long-lasting)
• AED 2,500–4,500
• Best for: short clinical crowns

Option 3: Crown lengthening with bone work

• Surgical repositioning of gum and bone
• 6–8 weeks healing
• AED 1,200–2,000 per tooth
• Best for: altered passive eruption

Option 4: Orthognathic surgery

• Jaw repositioning
• AED 60,000–120,000
• Best for: vertical maxillary excess
• Usually only when other facial features also warrant it

The combination approach

Most gummy smile treatments work best combined. A common plan: crown lengthening + veneers + annual Botox top-up.

Practical decision guide

Cosmetic dentistry is strongest when the smile plan starts with healthy teeth and gums, not with a material choice. Before committing to a visible change, confirm the diagnosis, preview the result on your own face, and understand what tooth structure will or will not be removed.

Check this first

• Gum health, cavities, bite forces, grinding history, and old restorations.
• Whether whitening, bonding, alignment, veneers, or crowns is the least-invasive option that meets the goal.
• How the proposed shade and tooth shape will look in daylight, photos, and normal conversation.

When to book sooner

• The tooth is chipped, dark after trauma, sensitive, mobile, or changing colour quickly.
• You are being offered irreversible treatment without x-rays, gum screening, photos, or a trial smile.
• You grind at night and no nightguard or bite plan is included.

Topic-specific notes

• For cosmetic work, the most protective sequence is health check, photos, smile preview, trial or mock-up where appropriate, then final treatment. Irreversible tooth preparation should not be the first step in the conversation.

Questions to ask at the appointment

• Can I see a digital preview or trial smile before irreversible preparation?
• How much enamel will be removed, and is there a lower-prep alternative?
• What happens if the restoration chips, stains, or needs replacement later?

Dubai patient note

For Dubai cosmetic treatment, ask for a written plan that separates consultation, scans, mock-up, treatment, nightguard, warranty terms, and maintenance visits. If a clinician or facility is unfamiliar, verify licensing through DHA before starting.

References

• Journal of Periodontology