GUMMY SMILE
A smile that shows a lot of gum is treated differently depending on the cause. We look at gums, teeth, lips and bone together to find it first.
Dr. Park Dong-Uk (Director, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Specialist)
Gum contouring
Crown lengthening
Lip
repositioning
Muscle control
Botox
WHAT IS A GUMMY SMILE
When 3 mm or more of the upper gum shows in a relaxed smile, it is called a gummy smile. It is not a disease, but many people become self-conscious and cover their mouth when they laugh.
CAUSE & TREATMENT
A gummy smile often has more than one cause. After an accurate diagnosis, we apply one method or a combination of them.
CAUSE 01
The gum covers too much of the teeth
Teeth look short and square
GINGIVECTOMY · CROWN LENGTHENING
Gum contouring · crown lengthening
The gum covering the teeth is reshaped to reveal their natural length. If the bone beneath the gum also needs adjusting, crown lengthening is performed at the same time so the gum does not grow back down.
CAUSE 02
The upper lip rises high when smiling
Tooth length is normal, but a wide band of gum shows
LIP REPOSITIONING
Lip repositioning
Part of the mucosa inside the lip is removed and stitched to limit how far the upper lip rises when you smile. It is done from inside the mouth, so there is no scar on the skin of the face.
CAUSE 03
The lip-raising muscles are strong
Gum shows mainly when smiling
BOTOX
Botox
A small amount of Botox is injected into the muscle that lifts the upper lip to soften its movement. The procedure is simple, but the effect is temporary, so it needs to be repeated periodically.
If the cause is skeletal — the upper jaw has grown long downward — orthodontics or jaw surgery may be needed. In that case, after diagnosis we guide you to university-hospital care such as Seoul National University Dental Hospital.
PROCESS
STEP 01
We photograph your relaxed smile and look at how much gum shows, tooth length and lip movement together.
STEP 02
We check bone height beneath the gum and gum thickness to identify the cause, then explain the treatment and expected result.
STEP 03
Performed under local anesthesia. Gum contouring and lip repositioning are done inside the mouth; Botox is a short injection.
STEP 04
Stitches are removed after 1–2 weeks and healing is checked. We follow up regularly until the gum line settles.
RECOVERY
Same day
Most people return to daily life
1–2 weeks
The gum largely heals and stitches come out
CASES
The wide band of upper gum that showed when smiling was reduced to balance the proportion of teeth and gums.
The smile before and after treatment, with less gum showing when smiling.
These are before/after photos of the same patient, same teeth, treated by the same medical staff, posted with the patient's consent. Results vary by individual; all treatments may involve side effects such as infection or bleeding — please consult the medical staff.
YOUR DOCTOR
DIRECTOR · ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Specialist · Integrated Dentistry Specialist
“The depth of a Seoul National University–trained specialist, with the warmth of caring for family.”
FAQ
We answer every last question, carefully and in full.
A gummy smile is when 3 mm or more of the gums show when you smile. Depending on the cause, we choose gum contouring (gingivectomy, crown lengthening), lip repositioning or Botox. Our oral & maxillofacial surgery specialist diagnoses and treats it personally.
LOCATION
Open on public holidays, too
| Mon · Thu (late hours) | 09:30 – 21:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue · Wed · Fri | 09:30 – 18:30 |
| Sat · Public holidays | 09:30 – 14:00 |
| Lunch break (weekdays) | 13:00 – 14:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Open until 9 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, and until 2 p.m. on Saturdays and public holidays. Closed on Sundays.
KEEP WHAT'S ORIGINAL & NATURAL
Just leave your symptoms and contact details —
the dentist in charge will review them and get back to you.