Dr MJ · Smileworks Liverpool
Gummy Smile Treatment Liverpool
Smile without holding back.
Bothered by how much gum shows when you smile? Find out what can change it, which treatment suits you and what it involves. At Smileworks, Dr MJ looks at your lips, teeth and gums before recommending an approach.
What can change how much gum I show?
There is more than one way to improve a gummy smile. The right choice depends on why the gum shows.
Your upper lip may lift high when you laugh. Gum may cover part of a tooth that could be visible. Tooth position or the proportions of the upper jaw can also contribute. More than one factor may be involved.
Removing gum will not solve every gummy smile. Neither will changing lip movement. The assessment identifies what each option could change for you.
You can also leave your smile as it is
Visible gum is not, by itself, a reason to have cosmetic treatment. Dentists use the term excessive gingival display to describe what they see. It does not decide whether you should change it.
MJ starts with what bothers you and what you want to achieve. Choosing no treatment avoids the cost and risks of a cosmetic procedure.
“I can smile and use my favourite lipstick because my smile looks amazing !!!!”
How does MJ work out the cause?
There are two parts to the assessment: what causes the gum display and where it appears across your smile.
MJ distinguishes three patterns:
- Anteriormore gum shows over the front teeth.
- Posteriormore gum shows further back at the sides.
- Combinedboth areas contribute.
These patterns describe the appearance. They do not replace an assessment of your lips, gums, teeth and jaw.
MJ considers how the upper lip moves and how that movement works with the muscles lifting the corners of your mouth. A hypermobile lip, which moves further upwards, is different from a short upper lip. Short teeth are also different from teeth that look short because gum covers them.
That distinction explains why two people with similar photographs may need different advice.
How do you reduce gum show without making the smile look odd?
“The smile is a universal currency of beauty.”
The goal is to change the part of the smile that bothers you while considering the movement of the whole mouth.
When muscle pull contributes, temporary muscle-relaxing treatment can reduce that upward movement. It does not remove gum, lengthen teeth or reposition the jaw.
The muscles around the mouth work together. The levator labii superioris alaeque nasi, often shortened to LLSAN, helps lift the upper lip. Other muscles contribute to the lift at the sides. Reducing movement in the wrong place can change more of the smile than intended.
MJ uses ultrasound to map the relevant muscles before treatment. Seeing their position supports her assessment and placement planning. Her dental training also informs how she assesses the relationship between the lips, teeth and gums.
Unwanted spread to neighbouring muscles can still cause an uneven smile, restricted movement or a smile that feels unfamiliar. These possibilities matter when you speak, eat or express yourself, not just when you pose for a photograph.
“This is one of those treatments we’ve got to get right.”
Dental and surgical options
Would gum contouring make my teeth look better or too long?
MJ looks at the proportions of the visible tooth before recommending gum removal.
If teeth look short and wide because gum covers part of their surface, revealing more tooth can improve the proportions. This is where carefully planned gum contouring with Dr JK may help.
If the teeth already have suitable proportions, removing more gum can make them look too long. A high smile line does not automatically mean there is spare gum to remove.
MJ sees contouring as an option for selected cases with short clinical crowns and a limited amount of gum display. It is not her answer to every pronounced gummy smile.
What is the difference between gum contouring and crown lengthening?
Gum contouring, also called gum recontouring or gum sculpting, reshapes the gum line. You may see it described as a gingival lift or smile lift.
One cause of short-looking teeth is altered passive eruption, where more of the tooth crown remains covered by gum. The dentist must also assess the bone beneath the gum. Other eruption-related findings, including altered active eruption, can affect that plan.
Crown lengthening can involve reshaping bone as well as gum. The amount that can be changed depends on those relationships and the final tooth proportions.
This is surgery. Planning and careful execution matter, even when the visible change is small.
Can braces or TADs reduce a gummy smile?
Straight teeth can still sit in a position that contributes to gum display. Straightening and changing their vertical position are different treatment goals.
Orthodontic intrusion moves selected teeth upwards within the supporting bone. It may be considered when tooth position, including anterior overeruption, contributes to the smile.
Temporary anchorage devices, or TADs, are small orthodontic screws that provide an anchor for controlled tooth movement. MJ identifies Eduardo as the clinician who carries out this approach at Smileworks.
This takes longer than a temporary change to muscle movement. It also changes a different part of the problem. The choice depends on the cause and the result you want.
Orthodontic movement can affect the roots of teeth. Anchorage screws can loosen or need replacing. Your orthodontist assesses those risks and explains the treatment and retention plan.
When would jaw surgery enter the discussion?
In some people, the upper jaw contributes significantly to the gum display. The clinical term is vertical maxillary excess.
For selected severe skeletal cases, orthognathic surgery can reposition the upper jaw. This requires specialist assessment and a substantial commitment to treatment and recovery.
Changing lip movement does not reposition the jaw. Removing gum does not correct the jaw proportions either. That does not mean everyone with a pronounced gummy smile needs surgery.
MJ discusses the options so you understand what a smaller cosmetic change would leave unchanged.
Is a lip flip or lip filler the same treatment?
A lip flip changes how the lip border sits
A lip flip acts on the orbicularis oris, the muscle around the mouth. It aims to make more of the upper lip visible.
That is different from addressing the muscles that lift the upper lip when you smile. MJ generally does not use a lip flip as her gummy smile treatment. Asking for less gum on show is not the same as asking for the lip to turn outwards.
Filler adds fullness
MJ sometimes considers lip filler for a mild gummy smile when a fuller lip would be appropriate. The extra fullness may cover a little more gum.
If you do not want fuller lips, that may be the wrong change. Filler does not correct tooth position or excess height in the upper jaw.
Filler also has its own risks. These include swelling and bruising, as well as potentially serious complications if blood flow is blocked. It is not a risk-free alternative.
How long does temporary treatment last?
In MJ’s practice, the effect of muscle-relaxing treatment for a gummy smile generally lasts 2–4 months. Many of her patients return at around four months. She finds that stronger muscle pull can sometimes mean a shorter-lived effect.
That describes the duration she sees. It is not an automatic timetable for another treatment.
As the effect fades, gum display returns towards its previous pattern. Your clinician reviews whether and when further treatment is appropriate. A shorter-lived result is not a reason to repeat treatment early.
Consider the ongoing cost and appointments before choosing a temporary approach. A dental or surgical alternative may offer a longer-term change when it addresses your cause, but brings a different commitment and set of risks.
What happens at the consultation?
MJ discusses the options for your case and makes the decision with you. You can explain what bothers you, ask questions and consider what you would or would not want to change.
Her dental and aesthetic background matters here. The decision may involve muscle movement, gum treatment with JK or orthodontic planning with Eduardo. It may also be to leave your smile alone.
Dr MJ Rowland-Warmann co-founded Smileworks. She qualified as a dentist and holds a master’s degree in aesthetic medicine with distinction. Her postgraduate training also includes orthodontics.
How much does gummy smile treatment cost?
The cost depends on what needs to change. A temporary change to lip movement, gum surgery and orthodontic treatment are different plans.
For temporary treatment, consider repeat costs as well as the first visit. For dental alternatives, ask about the complete proposed treatment and maintenance.
Gummy smile treatment for lip movement costs £279. Gum contouring, orthodontics and other dental treatment are assessed and priced separately.
What does recovery involve?
Recovery depends on the option chosen. Injectable treatment can cause local tenderness or bruising. Gum surgery can involve soreness and swelling while the tissues heal. Orthodontic treatment has its own adjustment periods.
Temporary effects are not the same as immediately reversible effects. If your smile feels restricted or looks uneven, contact your treating clinician for assessment.
Before treatment, discuss when to expect the result, what recovery will involve and how to get advice afterwards.
A few other questions
Can you train away a gummy smile?
In MJ’s clinical opinion, you cannot train away a gummy smile. Holding your lip differently for a photograph is not the same as changing your natural smile when you laugh.
You shouldn’t have to think about hiding your gums every time you’re happy.
Do I need veneers for a gummy smile?
Not automatically. Composite bonding, composite veneers or porcelain veneers can change the shape of worn or small teeth. They do not directly change how far your lip lifts.
A short-looking tooth needs assessment first. It may be small, worn or partly covered by gum. Those findings lead to different plans.
Is lip repositioning surgery the same as a lip flip?
No. Lip repositioning is a surgical procedure. A lip flip changes muscle activity around the lip border. They are separate options with different assessments and recovery.
How much gum is too much?
There is no single measurement that decides whether your smile looks right to you. Clinical measurements help describe the smile and plan treatment. They do not create an obligation to change it.
If your gums are swollen or bleeding, that is a separate reason for a dental assessment rather than choosing cosmetic treatment.
“I am so happy 😁”
What patients say about our clinicians
“She’s an artist!”
“MJ is amazing 💋”
“It’s completely restored my confidence in myself and my smile.”
Faye had gum contouring and composite bonding with Dr JK after a consultation with MJ. Her review describes the combined treatment. The wider review wall features patients’ experiences with our clinicians across different treatments.
“She’s an artist!”
Emi★★★★★“MJ is amazing 💋”
Tanya★★★★★“naturally beautiful.”
Faye★★★★★“blown away”
Claire★★★★★“Five star experience”
Sarah★★★★★“fantastic!”
Katy★★★★★“I’m honestly obsessed with the results already!”
Ana-Maria★★★★★“she’s fabulous 😊”
Julie★★★★★“100 stars”
Debbie★★★★★“incredible work.”
Laura★★★★★“My teeth look so natural and exactly how I wanted them.”
Paula★★★★★“Very caring.”
Robbie★★★★★“smooth and painless.”
Asmaa★★★★★“Amazing results”
Laura★★★★★“exceptional.”
Francesca★★★★★“Am thrilled!!!”
Kiri★★★★★“Just simply amazing!!!”
Kate★★★★★“Book with confidence!”
Bianca★★★★★“fab and friendly”
Lesley★★★★★“so professional”
Karl★★★★★“amazing Job”
Emi★★★★★“Can’t rate highly enough.”
Tanya★★★★★“gorgeous lady”
Claire★★★★★“It’s completely restored my confidence in myself and my smile.”
Faye★★★★★“Thank you MJ 😊 xx”
Sarah★★★★★“very gentle”
Katy★★★★★“professional, knowledgeable,”
Ana-Maria★★★★★“feel amazing”
Julie★★★★★“lovely professional lady”
Debbie★★★★★“Thank you so much! 😘😘💕”
Laura★★★★★“you’re the best.”
Asmaa★★★★★“I honestly couldn’t recommend JK and Sav enough 🥰”
Paula★★★★★“expert knowledge”
Laura★★★★★“friendly and welcoming.”
Francesca★★★★★“such a good job!”
Kiri★★★★★“top class.”
Kate★★★★★“outstanding.”
Bianca★★★★★“so safe”
Karl★★★★★
Talk to us about your smile
Tell us what bothers you when you smile or laugh. You do not need to choose a procedure before asking for advice.
Smileworks Liverpool, 1a Kenyons Steps, Liverpool L1 3DF.