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When
patients comment on their gummy smiles, they may be referring
to a single tooth, a specific group of teeth, or the entire
jaw containing all of the teeth, in both the upper and lower
parts of the mouth. These gummy smiles may be caused by an
array of factors, such as previous orthodontic treatment,
developmental or genetic influences, or medication-induced
reactions. Gummy smiles are classified according to the
amount of gum tissue that shows in relation to how much tooth
structure is displayed when smiling. These classifications
are determined by measuring the patient's gum tissue as a
percentage of total tooth length. Gummy smiles range from
mild, moderate, and advanced, to severe.
Mild Gummy Smiles
If the
amount of gum tissue displayed while smiling is less than 25%
of the entire length of the teeth, it is considered a mild
gummy smile.
Moderate Gummy Smiles
If the
amount of gum tissue displayed is between 25% and 50% of the
length of the teeth, it is considered a moderate gummy smile.
Advanced Gummy Smiles
If the
amount of gum tissue displayed is between 50% and 100% of the
length of the teeth, it is considered an advanced gummy smile.
Severe Gummy Smile
If the
amount of gum tissue displayed is greater than 100% of the
length of the teeth, it is considered a severe gummy smile.
There
are various types of gummy smiles affecting all areas of the
mouth. Single teeth may be affected, as well as groups of
teeth, or even entire smiles. Some patients may be unhappy
with the amount of gum tissue displayed above their front
teeth (anterior teeth) when smiling. Others may be content
with the gum level above their anterior teeth but feel as
though they display too much gum tissue on their side teeth
(posterior teeth) when smiling. Furthermore, gummy smiles may
occur on only one side of the mouth, known as a unilateral
posterior gummy smile, or on both sides, known as a bilateral
posterior gummy smile. No matter what classification of gummy
smile exists, patients always have gummy smile correction
options. Let's explore these gummy smile treatment
procedures. |
