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A smile is your first impression, a warm welcome into who you are, and an essential part of socialising and building relationships. So, when you don’t like your smile, it can have a significant impact on the way you feel around others.
At our specialist clinic in Chester, we offer a simple and pain-free solution for a gummy smile that can help you lose any self-conscious doubts and be confident again.
With a gummy smile, the issue often lies with your top lip. For various reasons, it moves too much, and as you break into a smile, a disproportionate amount of gum shows. Other reasons include:
At DD Clinical, our treatment effectively relaxes the muscles around your upper lip, causing the lip line to drop down and sit comfortably at the top of your teeth, forming a naturally beautiful smile.
Contact our team today on 01244 432 517 to book an appointment.
Read the answers to the most commonly asked questions below. Or, book a consultation with one of our specialists and we’ll be happy to talk you through it.
When the ratio between your gums and teeth becomes unbalanced as you reveal them, this is often called a gummy smile. Up to 15% of the population has this condition, and it can have a notable effect on the way you feel. You may be self-conscious and believe your teeth are too small, but often the teeth are a normal size when measured, and it’s just the extra gums that are creating that illusion.
There are many reasons people get a gummy smile. The way your lips and jaw develop in childhood and the general wear-and-tear of teeth over time all play a part. If your upper lip naturally rises too much, it reveals more gum than necessary, or it may be that your jaw has developed in a way that protrudes which could also create a gummy smile.
The procedure is a safe and effective treatment for a gummy smile. A medical professional will inject you in your upper lip, and this will relax the muscles to reduce the amount of gum on show.
Treatment for a gummy smile at DD Clinical
The first step is to attend a complimentary consultation with one of our clinicians to discuss the procedure and decide if it’s right for you. We’ll take a full medical history and advise on any queries or concerns you have.
When you’re ready for the treatment, a medical practitioner will use a fine needle to administer a small amount of protein to the area where the nostrils, nose and mouth meet. This relaxes the muscles, causing the top lip to drop down, and effectively reduces the gummy smile.
It’s a fast procedure, and an anaesthetic isn’t required because the majority of people find that this process isn’t painful. If you do feel nervous, we can apply an ice pack to numb the area beforehand.
Filler has been in medical use for more than four decades and is known to be a safe and effective treatment. The product is made up of a natural, purified protein, which relaxes muscles, and in the case of a gummy smile reduces the exposure of the gums.
This procedure is quick and easy, and it takes just two or three days until you see an improvement. When injected by an experienced medical professional, there are minimal risks, and the treatment is almost entirely pain-free. After two weeks, you’ll see the full effect, your gummy smile will have reduced and will stay that way for three or four months.
Injections are a well-established, safe procedure, and there are very few side effects.
Occasionally, people experience mild bruising and swelling at the injection site. This is short-lived and passes within 24-hours.
If you have any other concerns, please ask. We only proceed with injected treatments after you’ve had a face-to-face consultation with one of our clinicians, where you can discuss any side effects or potential risks for the treatments.
Most people continue their day as usual after their treatment. It’s best to take it easy, avoiding strenuous exercise, extreme heat (like a sauna), or alcohol for 24 hours. But after that, you can return to your usual routine.
The effects of the treatment take two or three days to appear and last up to four months. After eight weeks, you may notice movement returning to the area, but it’s not recommended to have further treatments for at least three months.
Before any injectable procedure, you’ll receive a thorough consultation with a medical practitioner, who will advise you on any further aftercare requirements.
You should avoid treatment if any of the following are relevant:
Our medical practitioners will talk you through these risks as well as any other concerns you may have.
Treatment for a gummy smile costs between £199-£500 depending on the extent of the problem. The effects last between three-four months, after which you’ll have a top-up treatment.
In your complimentary consultation, we’ll discuss any concerns you have and create a treatment plan.
