A beautiful, harmonious smile is defined by a pleasing balance between the teeth, gums, and lips. For some individuals, an excessive display of gum tissue when they smile—a condition commonly known as a "gummy smile"—can create a sense of self-consciousness and detract from the beauty of their teeth. At İnci Diş, we understand that this is a purely aesthetic concern, but one that can have a significant impact on your confidence. We want you to love your smile without hesitation. As a leading center for cosmetic dentistry in Istanbul, we offer a range of advanced, minimally invasive treatments designed to correct excessive gingival display and create a more balanced, aesthetically pleasing smile line. Our experts go beyond a one-size-fits-all approach, first diagnosing the specific cause of your gummy smile to recommend the most effective and personalized treatment plan for you.
Understanding the Causes of a Gummy Smile
Achieving the perfect result begins with an accurate diagnosis. A gummy smile is not a disease, but a variation in anatomy that can be caused by several different factors. Our cosmetic dentists are experts at identifying the precise cause, which is crucial for selecting the right treatment. Common causes include:
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Excessive Gum Tissue (Gingival Hypertrophy): In some individuals, the gum tissue simply covers too much of the tooth's surface, making the teeth appear short.
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Altered Passive Eruption: This is a condition where the teeth do not fully erupt through the jawbone and gums, leaving them partially covered by tissue.
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A Hyperactive Upper Lip: The muscle that controls the upper lip (the levator labii superioris) may be overactive, causing it to lift too high when smiling and exposing more gum tissue than desired.
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A Short Upper Lip: In some cases, the physical length of the upper lip itself is shorter than average.
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Vertical Maxillary Excess: This is a skeletal issue where the upper jawbone has grown longer than normal in the vertical dimension, leading to an excessive display of both teeth and gums.
Our Advanced Treatment Options for Gummy Smile Correction
Based on our thorough diagnosis, we offer several state-of-the-art solutions at İnci Diş, often using a combination of treatments for the perfect outcome.
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Laser Gum Contouring (Gingivectomy): This is the most common and effective treatment for cases caused by excessive gum tissue. Using a sophisticated dental diode laser, our dentist precisely and painlessly removes the excess gum tissue, sculpting a new, higher gum line. This instantly reveals more of your natural tooth structure, making your teeth appear longer and more proportionate. The benefits of using a laser are immense: it is a minimally invasive procedure with virtually no bleeding, as the laser cauterizes the tissue as it works. This also leads to minimal discomfort and a much faster healing time compared to traditional scalpel surgery. The entire procedure is often completed in a single, quick visit.
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Botulinum Toxin (Botox®) Injections: When the cause is a hyperactive upper lip muscle, Botox® offers a brilliantly simple and non-surgical solution. A very small, precisely placed injection of Botulinum Toxin into the overactive muscle causes it to relax. This prevents the lip from contracting as dramatically, so it no longer lifts excessively high when you smile. The result is a natural-looking smile with significantly less gum exposure. The procedure is virtually painless, takes only a few minutes, and the results last for several months, after which it can be easily repeated.
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Surgical Crown Lengthening: For more complex cases involving not just excess gum but also underlying bone (altered passive eruption), a surgical crown lengthening procedure is recommended. Our specialist will reshape both the gum tissue and a small amount of the underlying bone to expose the full, natural length of the tooth crowns. This creates a permanent and dramatic improvement in the tooth-to-gum ratio.
The İnci Diş Approach: A Personalized Smile Analysis
Your journey begins with a comprehensive smile analysis. We don't just look at your gums; we assess the interplay between your teeth, gums, lips, and overall facial structure. Using digital photography and video, we analyze your smile in motion to understand the dynamic relationship between the muscles and your lip line. This detailed diagnostic phase allows us to confidently identify the root cause of your gummy smile and design a treatment plan that is 100% tailored to your unique anatomy. This ensures the result is not only beautiful but also natural and harmonious with the rest of your features.
Your Gummy Smile Treatment Journey at Our Clinic
We strive to make your experience as comfortable and efficient as possible.
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Consultation and Diagnosis: This initial appointment is dedicated to our detailed smile analysis and a discussion of your aesthetic goals. We will explain the cause of your gummy smile and present the most suitable treatment options.
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Treatment Session: Depending on the chosen procedure, your treatment can be very quick. Laser gum contouring is typically completed in under an hour with local anesthesia. A Botox® treatment takes only about 10-15 minutes.
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The Beautiful Result: The results of laser contouring are immediate. The effects of Botox® will gradually appear over the next 5-10 days. In both cases, you will leave our clinic well on your way to a new smile that you will be proud to share with the world.
Combining Gummy Smile Correction with Other Cosmetic Treatments
Often, gummy smile correction is the foundational first step in a complete Smile Makeover. Once the ideal gum line has been established, the harmony of the smile can be further enhanced with other cosmetic treatments. After your gum contouring procedure, you may choose to perfect your smile with Teeth Whitening to brighten your newly revealed enamel or with custom-designed Porcelain Veneers to perfect the shape and color of your teeth. This combined approach allows our cosmetic dentists at İnci Diş to create truly stunning, life-changing smile transformations.