When a person shows a large portion of gum tissue when he smiles, causing the upper teeth to appear too short, his is described as a “gummy smile.”

Gummy smile happens when the upper lip rises up higher than normal so that more gum tissue is exposed, or when the upper jaw protrudes excessively. Gummy smiles may be classified as mild, moderate, advanced, or severe.

The dentist evaluates the severity of the gummy smile first before recommending treatment. Such treatments may be one or a combination of the following: laser treatments, surgical lip repositioning, teeth braces, surgical gum sculpting, or surgical bone surgery.