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Video: Laser Gummy Smile Treatment
Question:
Gummy smile not caused by excess bone? My 13 year old daughter has a gummy smile.
I was told by an orthodontist that it is not just gum tissue, but excessive bone and that she may require oral surgery. My question is what type of procedure can an oral surgeon do?
Should I wait until she is older to correct the problem? Will the bone continue to grow? ...Visitor from TX
Answer:
The gummy smile is from excessive vertical growth of the upper jaw and, yes, this would require surgery.
The procedure is a Lefort I Impaction of the maxillae or upper jaw bone.
An oral-maxillofacial surgeon can remove several millimeters of bone in the upper jaw and move this jaw upwards to reduce the gummy smile. This will also help by rotating the lower jaw forward, improving the chin projection and alleviating the mentalis strain you see in the chin area when her lips are held together.
The last part of the face to grow is vertical growth, so surgery should be delayed until all growth is complete. If your child is at least two years post-menarchial and a hand-wrist radiograph confirms the epiphyseal plates are closed, I would have no problem recommending doing the surgery now.
James J. Awbrey, D.M.D.
4895 Windward Parkway, Suite 200
Alpharetta, Georgia GA 30004
(770) 751-1688
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