Treatment details: Gummy Smile Correction
A gummy smile has more than one cause, and the treatment has to match it. Where the gum sits low over the teeth, reshaping the gum margin lengthens the visible crown; where the upper lip rises too far, repositioning the lip is the answer. Both were available in this case and the plan was built from the oral examination. The one week photograph is early, and the gum line continues to mature over the following weeks. Where the cause is an overactive lip elevator rather than gum height or lip position, botulinum toxin is the more appropriate first step and surgery is held in reserve.