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There are a different reasons that can cause a gummy smile, but the most common are such as too short upper lip, small teeth in comparison to the gums due to genetic factors or teeth that appear short because they erupted improperly and are partially covered by gum tissue, long or enlarged gums, known as gingival hypertrophy, an upper lip that is hyperactive and normal in length when the person`s face is resting but lifts too much when smiling which causes a lot of gum tissue expose or an overgrowth of the upper jaw- vertical maxillary excess, that makes the gums stick out.

Gummy Smile Reduction Surgery or Lip Repositioning is a surgical procedure to treat 'gummy smile'. It can be done under general or local anesthesia and lasts for about 30 to 45 minutes. The procedure restricts the muscle pull of the elevator lip muscles thereby reducing the gingival display while smiling. During this procedure, a strip of tissue is removed from the inner portion of the upper lip and the area is sutured into a lower and more aesthetically desirable position. The effect is visible immediately.

Patient rarely report any pain but in some cases a painkillers are prescribed. A slight swelling may occur but it disappears in a couple of days.

During the post-op period a strict oral hygiene must be obtained.

In some cases a Gummy Smile can be treated with a small amount of botox in the upper lip, which is not permanent and it must be done every couple of months since the botox wears out.