A gummy smile is a smile that shows too much gum over the teeth. According to the American Academy of Medical Orthodontics, it affects about 14% of women and 7% of men. A gummy smile can be a difficult thing to fix, with many treatments requiring surgery. But one less invasive option that can offer results is Botox injections.
We offer Botox injections for gummy smile correction at Enriched Aesthetics in Morristown, NJ. Read more about what this treatment offers below.
What Is a Gummy Smile?
If a lot of gum is visible over your teeth when you smile, you have a gummy smile. While a typical smile exposes only about two millimeters of gum, someone with a gummy smile will show three millimeters or more of it.
There are a few causes of gummy smiles. One cause is overly large or long gum tissue. This is called gingival hypertrophy. In other cases, gums can grow over the teeth because of mouth breathing, poor dental hygiene, or certain medications.
Teeth that are too small can also cause a gummy smile. Small teeth can be genetic or develop over time. When teeth are too small, the top teeth try to maintain a correct bite by erupting further down than is natural.
The most common reason some people have gummy smiles is that the top jaw is longer than it should be.
Botox: What It Is and How We Use It
Botox is a neurotoxin made from botulinum toxin A. It works by temporarily paralyzing the muscles at the injection site. For a gummy smile, Botox can help relax the muscles in your upper lip, reducing their movement. Botox injections help keep the gum covered when you smile by diminishing the movement of your top lip.
We can also perform a lip flip to help with a gummy smile. By injecting a few units of Botox into your upper lip, we can make it appear fuller, covering the upper gum more effectively while also reducing the appearance of thinning lips.
The best candidates for a Botox gummy smile correction are people in overall good health who want a reduction in the visibility of their gums when they smile. You may not be a good candidate if you are any of the following:
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have muscle weakness
- Are allergic to Botox ingredients
- Have a neurological disorder
We will assess your overall health to ensure you can benefit from this option.
Benefits of Botox for Gummy Smile Reduction
Most other types of gummy smile reduction treatments require surgery. Not everyone is physically capable of having surgery, and it is also not always practical or affordable. Botox injections can help with gummy smiles without requiring you to take a lot of time off to recover, and they are also a more cost-effective option than surgery.
Since the results of these injections are not permanent, you can try Botox to see if you like it. You can expect very fast results, as well, without having to wait through a long recovery process.
How to Prepare for Botox Injections
We want to ensure you are a good candidate for this procedure, so we ask all of our clients to schedule an appointment with us. We will assess your gums and get your full medical history. Tell us about any medications or supplements you take.
A week before the appointment, you want to stop taking blood thinners like aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, St. John’s wort, and vitamin E. Remember to always consult your general practitioner before stopping any medications.
A few days before the injections, stop drinking alcohol. If you have a fever blister, cold sore, or an infection on your lips, you will need to reschedule.
The Botox Procedure
Come to the appointment without makeup and without wearing creams or lotions. We will wash the treatment area before beginning the procedure. If you prefer, we can apply a topical numbing cream to the injection sites.
We will inject one or two units of Botox into the area between your upper lip and nose, where the muscles responsible for elevating the upper lip overlap.
The procedure can take about 20 minutes, and you can leave right after we finish.
Aftercare and Results
There is no real downtime after receiving Botox injections, but there are a few things you want to avoid doing. Don’t touch, rub, or scratch at the injection sites so that you don’t dislodge the Botox. We also recommend you avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours after the injections, as well as excessive heat.
You also want to avoid irritants to your lips, like spicy food, for a few hours. You may want to apply an ice pack during the first 24 hours.
When you start seeing the full results can vary. Most people see them after 72 hours, while it can take a bit longer for others. Do remember that you will need follow-up appointments to maintain the results. During the consultation, we can create a treatment plan that works for you and your schedule.
Reduce Your Gummy Smile
You don’t have to undergo expensive and difficult surgical procedures to get help for a gummy smile. By turning to neurotoxins like Botox, you can get quality results with a minimally invasive procedure.
At Enriched Aesthetics in Morristown, NJ, we provide cosmetic treatments that can enhance your natural beauty. We have state-of-the-art facilities to offer premier services you can depend on. Learn more about our options by calling us for an appointment!
