Gummy Smile
IN NASHVILLE, TN
A balanced smile is more than just straight teeth; it’s about harmony between the lips, teeth, and gums. For some, an overly visible gum line, commonly referred to as a gummy smile or excessive gum tissue, can make them feel self-conscious, even if their teeth are perfectly healthy. Whether your gummy smile is caused by extra gum tissue, a short upper lip, or overactive facial muscles, Gilpin Facial Plastics and Aesthetics offers advanced surgical and non-surgical treatments tailored to your anatomy.
What is Gummy Smile?
A gummy smile, also called excessive gingival display, occurs when too much gum tissue is visible above the upper teeth while smiling. While there’s no strict clinical threshold, smiles that expose more than 3–4 millimeters of excess gum tissue are often perceived as “gummy” and may affect personal aesthetics and dental esthetics.
Causes of Gummy Smile
A gummy smile can be caused by several factors, including:
- Vertical maxillary excess: Overgrowth of the upper jaw or bone
- Short upper lip or hyperactive upper lip muscles: Can over-lift the lip when smiling
- Altered passive eruption: When soft tissue (gums) covers too much of the teeth
- Dentoalveolar extrusion: Over-eruption of the teeth and surrounding bone
- Extra gum tissue: Due to genetics or inflammation caused by gum disease
ELEVATE YOUR CONFIDENCE
IN A LUXURY SURGICAL PRACTICE
Investing in your confidence is a big step, and your choice of facial plastic surgeon should reflect it. We offer a premier, luxury environment where you can focus on yourself.
With the help of our professional and knowledgeable team, you can begin your journey toward a more confident you. We’ll take every step to ensure you feel comfortable, pampered, and acknowledged. Begin your refined and cultivated experience here at Gilpin Facial Plastics & Aesthetics.
Symptoms and Signs
Patients often notice one or more of the following:
- A smile line that reveals a large amount of gum tissue
- Teeth that look smaller or uneven
- A lip that lifts too high when smiling
- Dissatisfaction with dental esthetics or facial harmony
These issues can be purely cosmetic or may signal an underlying structural concern, making a professional evaluation crucial.
Treatments for Gummy Smile
At Gilpin Facial Plastics and Aesthetics, we offer a variety of customized gummy smile treatment options, both non-surgical and surgical, depending on the cause:
Neurotoxins
For patients with a hyperactive upper lip, botulinum toxin injections are a simple, effective way to reduce excessive gingival display. By relaxing specific facial muscles like the levator labii superioris, these injectables prevent the upper lip from lifting too high when smiling.
Fillers
Hyaluronic acid filler injections can subtly enhance and lengthen the upper lip, helping it cover more of the gum line during a smile. Fillers can also improve overall lip shape and harmony in your smile line.
Lip Lift
A lip lift elevates the upper lip for better tooth show at rest, but in some cases, it can be modified or paired with lip repositioning techniques to address a gummy smile. This procedure involves repositioning the soft tissue to limit how far the lip moves when smiling.
Benefits of Professional Treatment
Choosing a facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Gilpin ensures that your treatment plan is tailored to your facial symmetry and overall personal aesthetics. Benefits of professional care include:
- A more balanced and natural-looking smile
- Long-lasting results from targeted treatment
- Improved soft tissue health and gum line symmetry
- Higher self-confidence and comfort in social situations
- Fewer complications due to precise planning and execution
What to Expect During Treatment
Results in
1-2 weeks
Recovery
3-5 days
Lasts
Several months
Your journey begins with a comprehensive consultation, where Dr. Gilpin will evaluate your teeth, gums, upper lip, and jaw. Depending on the chosen treatment method, you may receive local anesthetic or general anesthesia. Recovery times vary; botulinum toxin and dermal fillers require little to no downtime, while surgical procedures like lip repositioning surgery may involve short healing periods.
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David Gilpin, MD
Dr. David Gilpin is a native of Nashville, TN. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Biomedical Engineering, Dr. Gilpin pursued his M.D. from The University of Tennessee…
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If your smile shows more gum tissue than you’d like, there are proven solutions. At Gilpin Facial Plastics and Aesthetics, we take a customized, compassionate approach to help you achieve a confident, new smile that reflects your inner beauty, and can help you find adequate care whether you need a cosmetic solution from us or orthodontic treatment from dental professionals. Schedule your gummy smile consultation today and discover which treatment options are right for you.
OUR EXPERIENCE
IS INVALUABLE
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Dr. David Gilpin is Nashville’s most accomplished dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon and the founder of Gilpin Facial Plastics, the city’s largest facial plastic surgery and medspa practice. With advanced fellowship training under one of the world’s leading experts in facial plastic surgery, Dr. Gilpin brings extensive knowledge, skill, and experience to every procedure he performs. He is particularly recognized for his expertise in facelift plastic surgery, delivering natural-looking facelifts that enhance facial harmony while preserving each patient’s unique features. Committed to continual learning and innovation, Dr. Gilpin stays at the forefront of facial rejuvenation techniques to provide patients with the most advanced and cutting-edge facelift procedures available.
Renowned for his personalized approach to both surgical and non-surgical facial procedures, Dr. Gilpin is known for achieving refined, long-lasting, and natural results. He has been featured in Nashville Lifestyles, recognized as a RealSelf Top Doctor, and regularly serves as a national speaker, sharing his expert knowledge with peers across the country. Handpicked by his peers as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for the past six years and selected by Allergan to host the official Allergan Botox Day celebration two years in a row, Dr. Gilpin is trusted by A-list clients and respected colleagues alike. His leadership, experience, and compassionate care firmly establish him as one of the most sought-after facial plastic surgeons in Nashville, TN, and the eastern United States.