Gummy Smile Botox

What is the Gummy Smile?

An attractive smile or grin is where you flash your “pearly whites” without showing your upper gums.

The gums are the pink / red area above the teeth.

For people with a gummy smile, the upper lip is elevated / pulled upwards beyond what is normal and exposes too much of the upper gum tissue.

Medically this is known as excessive gingival display, where more than 3mm of upper gum tissue is shown when smiling.

It is estimated that around 10% of the population has a gummy smile. Sometimes, people with a gummy smile may feel that their teeth appear smaller than normal, or even feel self-conscious about their smile.

Rest assured, Botox treatment is a safe and effective way to improve the gummy smile appearance!

What causes the Gummy Smile?

• Overactive upper lip elevator muscles
  
• Enlarged gum tissue (gingival hypertrophy) can sometimes cause a gummy smile
  
• Upper Jaw excessive growth (vertical maxillary excess) can lead to the exposure of more upper gum tissue
  
• Genetically thin upper lips

How does Gummy Smile Botox work?

If the gummy smile is due to overactive upper lip elevator muscles, it can be easily and effectively improved with Botox injections.

Best of all, the treatment is quick, noninvasive and discomfort or downtime is minimal.

Botox works by relaxing the overactive upper lip elevator muscles. When smiling after Gummy Smile Botox, there is less upper lip elevation and hence, lesser exposed gum which reduces the appearance of a gummy smile.

What is Botox?

Botox is the commercial brand name of botulinum toxin A and is famous worldwide for treating wrinkles.

It can also be used to treat overactive or bulky muscles in the case of jaw slimming, calf reduction and in this article, gummy smile treatment.

Gummy Smile Botox Treatment Experience

The gummy smile Botox treatment is straightforward, quick, and only requires 2 injections. One on each side of the face.

Dr Edwin will first identify and mark out the area (about 1 to 2 cm from your nostrils, near your nasolabial fold / laugh line). This area is where the upper lip muscles converge and overlap.

Before each injection, the area will be iced to reduce discomfort and bruising.

Each injection point may contain between 2 to 4 units of botox, i.e a total of 4 to 8 units.

After injection, there may be a small swelling and rarely bruising. Dr Edwin would recommend you apply the intensive recovery cream to alleviate these symptoms.

Is Gummy Smile Botox painful?

The needles are very small and will feel like a small ant bite. Applying ice prior to injection will further reduce discomfort, i.e discomfort is minimal.

How long is the Gummy Smile Botox treatment?

Including treatment planning, the entire procedure should be between 10 to 15 minutes.

How long would it take to see Gummy Smile Botox results?

Results can usually be seen after 1 week.

How long do Gummy Smile Botox results last for?

Depending on the dosage, results typically last for 3 to 6 months.

Is Gummy Smile Botox safe? What are the side effects of Gummy Smile Botox?

Botox’s safety is well established and extensively studied. Potential side effects after Gummy Smile Botox include asymmetrical smiling, bruising and swelling at the injection site.

For asymmetrical smile, more botox can be injected into the side with more upper lip elevation to correct the asymmetry.

How do I find the best Gummy Smile Botox clinic in Singapore?

Every clinic offers different botox neurotoxin treatment options for the improvement of the gummy smile. No one clinic is same as the other. If you want to make sure that botox neurotoxin treatments are performed safely and effectively, make sure that the clinic is experienced in offering such botox neurotoxin injections. The clinic should also offer information on the various types of botox neurotoxins before proceeding.