Gummy Smile Treatment Options Explained

What counts as a gummy smile

Gum exposure of 3 mm or more above the top of the upper front teeth when smiling is usually perceived as gummy. 1–2 mm is well within normal range and often considered youthful.

The four main causes

1. Short clinical crowns

Your teeth are there, but gum covers too much of them. Treatment: gum contouring or crown lengthening to expose more tooth surface.

2. Overactive upper lip

Your lip lifts too high when you smile. Treatment: Botox into the lip-elevator muscles — a 5-minute injection giving 3–4 months of effect.

3. Vertical maxillary excess

The upper jaw is positioned too low, so gum naturally shows. Treatment: orthognathic surgery (jaw repositioning). Usually only offered when other features also warrant surgery.

4. Altered passive eruption

Gums didn't fully recede during tooth eruption. Treatment: crown lengthening with soft tissue and sometimes bone recontouring.

Diagnosis matters

The same "gummy" appearance can come from any of these four causes. Before any treatment, we photograph and video the smile, measure upper lip movement, and assess tooth proportions. Getting the diagnosis right determines which treatment actually works.

Treatment costs in Dubai

• Gum contouring (laser, 6–8 teeth): AED 2,500–4,500
• Crown lengthening with bone work (per tooth): AED 1,200–2,000
• Botox for lip elevators: AED 800–1,500 per session
• Orthognathic surgery: AED 60,000–120,000 (very specialised)

Combining approaches

A common plan: crown lengthening + veneers + annual Botox top-up. This tackles both the tooth-length issue and the lip hyperactivity.

What recovery looks like

Gum contouring

3–5 days of mild tenderness, soft diet for 48 hours, full healing at 2 weeks.

Crown lengthening

5–10 days of soreness, stitches removed at 1 week, full gum maturity at 6–8 weeks.

Botox

Immediate return to normal; results visible within 3–7 days.

When to avoid Botox as the sole fix

If gum exposure exceeds 5–6 mm and your teeth actually look short in proportion, Botox alone will help only modestly. In those cases, crown lengthening (exposing more tooth) combined with Botox gives a balanced result.

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 — Gingival sculpting outcomes
• International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery