Gummy Smile Treatment in Irvine, CA

If your smile shows more gum tissue than you'd like when you laugh, talk, or pose for a photo, you're not imagining it, and you don't have to just live with it. Gummy smile treatment in Irvine, CA at Smile By Design starts with figuring out why your smile looks the way it does, not with jumping straight to a procedure. Our team speaks English, Korean, and Spanish, so you can talk through your concerns in whatever language feels most comfortable. Before any treatment begins, you'll also receive a clear written plan explaining exactly what's involved and what it costs, so there are no surprises along the way.

Treatment Overview & Eligibility

What Causes a Gummy Smile?

A gummy smile can come from more than one source, and the right treatment depends on which factor (or combination of factors) is at play in your case.

Candidacy Assessment

Gum Tissue Overgrowth

Sometimes the teeth are a normal size and shape, but the gum tissue simply covers more of the tooth than it should. This can be genetic, related to certain medications, or tied to how the teeth erupted originally.

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Superior Materials & Specialty Craftsmanship

Why Gummy Smile Treatment Delivers More Than a Cosmetic Change

Treating a gummy smile is about more than appearance in the moment. It reshapes how your whole smile is framed, which affects your confidence in everyday situations.

Improved Tooth-to-Gum Proportion

Once the gum line is adjusted or the lip's movement is addressed, your teeth appear longer and better balanced. This can also set the stage for other cosmetic work, such as porcelain veneers, if you're planning a broader smile transformation.

Lasting Confidence in Your Smile

Patients who've felt self-conscious in photos, at work, or in social settings often describe a real shift once their smile shows the proportion they've wanted. If a gummy smile is one piece of a larger smile goal, this treatment pairs naturally with our smile makeovers.

Predictable Patient Journey

What to Expect During Your Gummy Smile Consultation and Treatment

Dr. Michael Choi, DMD

Prosthodontist & Specialist

Care Led by Irvine Specialist

Stage 01

Your Personalized Evaluation

Your visit starts with Dr. Hyeonju (Michael) Choi, DMD or Dr. Grace Ahn, DDS examining your gum tissue, lip movement, and bite to pinpoint the actual cause of your gummy smile. Dr. Choi's cosmetic and prosthodontic training means the evaluation looks at your whole smile, not just the gum line in isolation. You'll leave with a written plan laying out your recommended option, timeline, and cost.

Stage 02

The Procedure Experience

Depending on the treatment selected, your appointment may involve local anesthesia and a focused, in-office procedure that typically takes well under an hour. Our team walks you through each step beforehand so nothing feels rushed or unexpected.

Stage 03

Recovery and Results Timeline

Gum contouring generally involves a few days of mild tenderness. Lip repositioning has a slightly longer healing window, often one to two weeks, while swelling settles and the new lip position stabilizes. Injectable treatments have little to no downtime, with visible changes appearing within a few days.

Gummy Smile Treatment Options at Our Irvine Practice

Not every gummy smile calls for the same fix. As part of our broader cosmetic dentistry services, gummy smile treatment in Irvine, CA is matched to your specific cause, whether that means adjusting gum tissue, repositioning the lip, or relaxing the muscle that lifts it.

Gum Contouring (Gingivectomy)

Gum contouring reshapes excess tissue to reveal more of the natural tooth underneath. It's a straightforward, in-office procedure best suited to patients whose gummy smile is caused by tissue overgrowth rather than lip movement.

Lip Repositioning

Lip repositioning is a minor surgical procedure that limits how far the upper lip can rise, reducing gum exposure when you smile. It's a good option for patients whose gummy smile is driven mainly by a hyperactive or short upper lip.

Cosmetic Injectables for Lip Relaxation

For patients who want a non-surgical option, or who want to test the effect before committing to something permanent, cosmetic injectables can relax the lip muscle and reduce how high it rises during a smile. Your Smile By Design evaluation will help determine which of these paths, or which combination, fits your smile.

Short Upper Lip and Hyperactive Lip Movement

For other patients, the teeth and gums are proportioned normally, but the upper lip rises higher than average when smiling, exposing more gum tissue above the teeth. A short or hyperactive upper lip muscle is a common and very treatable cause.

Tooth Proportion and Jaw Position

In some cases, the underlying jaw position or the way the teeth grew in creates the appearance of a gummy smile, even when gum coverage itself is normal. Understanding which factor applies to you is the first step toward the right solution.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Gummy Smile Treatment in Irvine

Am I a candidate for gum contouring?

Most patients with excess or uneven gum tissue covering healthy tooth structure are candidates for gum contouring. The best way to know for sure is a hands-on evaluation, since your gum thickness, bone level, and bite all factor into the recommendation.

How long do results last?

Gum contouring and lip repositioning are designed to provide permanent changes to your smile framing, since the tissue reshaped or repositioned does not grow back the same way. Cosmetic injectables for lip relaxation are temporary and typically require repeat treatment to maintain results.

Is gummy smile treatment covered by dental insurance?

Coverage depends on your plan and whether the procedure is considered medically necessary or purely cosmetic. Our team reviews your insurance and financing options during your consultation, so you have a clear picture of cost before treatment begins.

How is lip repositioning different from cosmetic injectables?

Lip repositioning is a minor surgical procedure that permanently limits how high your upper lip rises when you smile. Cosmetic injectables relax the lip muscle temporarily, which makes them a good option if you want to try the effect before committing to a permanent change.

GUMMY SMILE TREATMENT CONSULTATION

Find Out Which Gummy Smile Fix Is Actually Right for You

The only way to know whether gum contouring, lip repositioning, or injectables makes sense for your smile is a real evaluation, not a guess from a photo. Our team will walk you through your options at your pace, with a written plan you can review before deciding on anything.

Call (949) 786-2820