Gummy Smile Treatment
In the perfect smile, the upper lip sits just above the top of the teeth. But for people with a high lip line, too much of their upper gum is revealed, creating what's commonly referred to as a "Gummy Smile." The unflattering appearance of highly visible gums causes many people with a high lip line to avoid smiling or place their hand over their mouth when they smile, laugh or train their facial muscles to limit their smile.
There is no need to be self conscious or to hide your emotions. Patients have a better option when they choose a lip lowering treatment from Dr. Alex Farnoosh, a celebrity periodontist in Beverly Hills.
You can start enjoying attractive gums and smiling with total confidence when you choose a lip lowering treatment. Request an appointment with celebrity periodontist and Los Angeles cosmetic dentist Dr. Alex A. Farnoosh, or call 310.657.0503 to set up a consultation. To help make your procedure affordable, Dr. Farnoosh offers several convenient financing options through leading healthcare credit companies.
Treatment Options
A "Gummy Smile" is more than a cosmetic problem - it can make you self conscious and cause you to cover up your true emotions. Until recently, the only way to correct this problem was to undergo orthognathic surgery to cut and reposition the front segment of the upper jaw. However, not everyone is willing to go through with this treatment because of the complexity of the surgery, discomfort, hospitalization, and inherent complications. Also, this procedure requires the jaw to be wired and stabilized for an extended period and is very expensive, with prices generally ranging between $35,000 and $40,000.
The lip lowering procedure gives men and women with Gummy Smiles a much more comfortable and affordable option. Dr. Farnoosh has developed an innovative solution to minimize the appearance of a high lip line by lowering or repositioning of the upper lip in conjunction with some minor periodontal cosmetic surgery.
Dr. Farnoosh started treating patients with Gummy Smiles in 1998 and since then has been revising and enhancing his treatment methods. The outcome of lip lowering treatment is often very dramatic and rewarding for the patients. You can hear what patients have to say when you view video testimonials.
Part of Your Total Smile
Appealing, well-positioned lips are an essential part of any person's smile. But the "Total Smile" involves much more, including beautiful teeth and pink, healthy-looking gums and appealing lips. Dr. Farnoosh will take the time to evaluate all aspects of your dental health and physical anatomy to revise your Gummy Smile while also addressing other cosmetic concerns such as dark gums, missing teeth, or teeth that are discolored.
You may have the most beautiful teeth in the world but if you have "Gummy Smile" showing too much gum or dark pigmented (discolored) gum, your smile does not look attractive.
Gummy Smile FAQ
What is a "Gummy Smile"?
Anyone who shows a significant amount of their upper gums when they smile may be considered to have this condition, which creates an unbalanced look in which the gums are emphasized over the teeth. Excess gum tissue or an upper lip that lifts considerably (hypermobile lip) when a person smiles are the main causes for a Gummy Smile appearance.
What are my treatment options?
Lip Lowering
Dr. Farnoosh can perform his lip lowering technique, which modifies the area where your upper lip and gum tissue join and in addition, reshaping and leveling the gum line will be done in some cases. This procedure creates excellent results for many patients, including those who need only subtle lip lowering. The last alternative is complex orthognathic surgery that requires cutting and repositioning the jaw. Dr. Farnoosh believes that this method should be used only in more extreme cases. It requires a very long recovery, has many complications, is very costly and not too many people want to go through the procedure.
Will my upper lip/face look different or saggy after this procedure?
No. After surgery, your lip/face will look just like it does now when it is in a normal position. The main benefit is that surgery limits how high your lip lifts when you smile. In fact, if you have a thin lip, it appears "fuller" after treatment for most of the patients.
How long is the recovery period?
The majority of the patients who choose lip lowering have minimal downtime following their procedure. Discomfort is also minimal for most patients. Be sure to follow Dr. Farnoosh's post-procedure instructions carefully to avoid the risk of complications.
Learn more about cosmetic gum care in Los Angeles from Dr. Farnoosh when you request an appointment with him at his office on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Also, be sure to view our video library to find out about all the cosmetic dentistry services we offer.
