How to Reduce that Gummy Smile

By Marlena N. Shaw


The excess gum that shows when smile is sometimes called a gummy smile. The size and shape of our lips, gums and teeth as well as the muscles that are involved in raising the upper lip when smiling determine how much gum shows when we actually are smiling.

The fact that the upper lip elevates too far above the teeth when one smiles, is one of the more common reasons for a gummy smile. The effect exposes too much of the gum-line. Most commonly, the cause is the overactivity of the muscle that elevates the upper lip when you smile. And it can also be created by having a thin upper lip or an inward lip shape that curls when smiling.

A negative result of a gummy smile can be a reluctance to smile. Some people are so self conscious about their gummy smile that they go to extreme measures to avoid smiling at all. For these people, a preoccupation with this condition can inhibit their interpersonal and professional relationships because they are hesitant to smile broadly. Luckily, a skilled physician can use Botox to eliminate the effect of a gummy smile.

For gummy smiles, Botox is injected into the upper lip. In less than a minute this Botox treatment can be performed. And with a fine needle, it is essentially painless.

What Groups Should Avoid Botox?

Botox should not be given to pregnant women, nursing mothers, or patients with neuromuscular diseases like myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, AML (Lou Gehrig's), or motor neuropathy should not use Botox. Patients who are allergic to human albumin, which is different than an egg allergy, should not use Botox. It has not been tested during pregnancy or nursing and that is the reason for the recommendation to avoid Botox in these situations.

Botox Prep

The best way to prepare for your Botox treatment is to know exactly what to expect. As soon as you fill out the paperwork, you'll likely be asked to sit in a chair for your procedure. The chair is much like the dentist chair you've experienced your whole life.

Your specialist may numb the injection area slightly, but it is certainly not a necessity. The needle used for Botox injections is very fine and you should barely feel it. The Botox procedure is very quick, usually around ten minutes in total, and it is virtually painless. In other words, there should be no down time required at all.

Botox Price Point

It's not surprising that the affordability of Botox is one of the factors that has driven it's popularity. A typical Botox session will usually cost between $300 and $400 per syringe. Every four to six months, patients will have to return to have another procedure in order to maintain their results.




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