By the Dr. Wonder Clinic dental team, Istanbul · Last updated: 25 October 2026 · 9 min read
In short
- A gummy smile means more than about 2–3 mm of gum shows above the upper front teeth when you smile (Fatani, Cureus, 2023).
- Roughly 1 in 10 people have a gummy smile, and it is more common in women (Amro et al., The Scientific World Journal, 2026).
- The cause decides the treatment: excess gum over the teeth calls for gum contouring or crown lengthening, an overactive upper lip for Botox or lip repositioning, and excess upper jaw growth for orthodontics or jaw surgery.
- In a 2024 study of 123 adults with a gummy smile, 55.3% had more than one cause (Al Jasser et al., Saudi Dental Journal, 2024). A single-treatment quote given without a diagnosis is a warning sign.
What Is a Gummy Smile?
A gummy smile, known clinically as excessive gingival display (EGD), is a smile in which an unusually large band of gum shows above the upper front teeth. Most researchers set the line at more than 2–3 mm of visible gum at full smile (Fatani, Cureus, 2023). Some use a stricter cut-off of 3 or 4 mm (Amro et al., 2026).
Some gum on show is normal. A review in the European Journal of General Dentistry describes 1–3 mm of visible gum as part of an ideal smile (Gonzales-Medina et al., 2021).
A gummy smile is a cosmetic concern, not a disease. Treatment is a personal choice, and the right option depends on why the gum shows.
What Causes a Gummy Smile?
A gummy smile has six recognised causes, and they sit in three places: the gums and teeth, the upper lip, or the upper jaw (Amro et al., 2026).
- Altered passive eruption (APE): the gum never moved back to its normal position as the adult teeth came in, so the teeth look short and the gum looks long.
- Gum enlargement: the gum tissue itself has grown thicker or taller than normal.
- Over-erupted front teeth: the upper front teeth sit lower than the teeth beside them and carry the gum line down with them.
- Hypermobile (overactive) upper lip: the lip lifts higher than average when you smile and uncovers more gum.
- Short upper lip: the lip is shorter than usual, so it covers less gum even at rest.
- Vertical maxillary excess (VME): the upper jaw has grown too far downward, so the whole tooth-and-gum block sits lower in the face.
Altered passive eruption is the most common cause in the studies available. It was involved in 73.2% of 123 patients in a 2024 Saudi study, alone or combined with another cause (Al Jasser et al., Saudi Dental Journal, 2024).
Many people have more than one cause at once. In the same Saudi study, 55.3% of patients had two or more causes, and having several causes was linked to more visible gum. An Egyptian study of 160 women found multiple causes in 44.3% of cases (Amro et al., 2026).
How Do Dentists Find the Cause of a Gummy Smile?
Dentists find the cause of a gummy smile by measuring the smile, the lip and the teeth, not by looking at a photo alone. The checks below follow the diagnostic outline used in recent clinical research (Amro et al., 2026).
- Measure the gum display. The dentist measures, in millimetres, how much gum shows at your widest smile.
- Measure the upper lip. Lip length at rest and how far the lip lifts when you smile show whether the lip is short or overactive. A lift of more than 8 mm is treated as a hypermobile lip (Gonzales-Medina et al., 2021).
- Measure the teeth. The length and width of the front teeth show whether gum is covering part of the tooth crown.
- Check where the bone sits. Probing through the gum locates the bone under it. This decides whether gum contouring alone is enough or crown lengthening is needed.
- Look at the face and jaw. Facial proportions and the bite show whether the upper jaw sits too low, which points to orthodontics or jaw surgery.
At Dr. Wonder Clinic in Istanbul, the assessment starts with a periodontal health check, because gum contouring is not done while gum disease or bone loss is active. Your gum line is then assessed clinically and digitally with photographs and measurements, and Digital Smile Design is used to preview the result when gum work is part of a wider smile makeover (Dr. Wonder Clinic, 2026).
Gummy Smile Treatment Options Compared
There are five main treatments for a gummy smile, and each one only works for specific causes. Evidence checked 25 October 2026.
| Treatment | Cause it treats | Type | How long the result lasts | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gum contouring (gingivectomy) | Excess gum, altered passive eruption with normal bone level | Minor gum surgery | Permanent (Dentists Closeby, 2026) | Does nothing for lip or jaw causes |
| Crown lengthening | Altered passive eruption with bone too close to the gum line | Gum and bone surgery | Long term, after a longer healing period than contouring (Dr. Wonder Clinic, 2026) | More invasive than contouring |
| Botox (botulinum toxin A) | Overactive upper lip | Injection | About 4–6 months (Fatani, 2023) | Needs repeat injections |
| Lip repositioning surgery | Overactive upper lip, mild VME | Minor surgery inside the lip | About 25% relapse after 12 months (Santos-Pereira et al., J Esthet Restor Dent, 2021) | Partial relapse is common |
| Orthodontics or jaw surgery | VME, over-erupted teeth | Braces/aligners or hospital surgery | Long term | Longest and most demanding option |
Gum contouring (gingivectomy)
Gum contouring removes excess gum to show more of each tooth. It suits patients whose gum covers part of the tooth crown while the bone underneath sits at a normal level. If the lip or jaw is the cause, contouring removes healthy gum without fixing the smile.
Crown lengthening
Crown lengthening reshapes both the gum and the bone beneath it. Dentists use it when probing shows the bone sits too close to the gum line, because contouring the gum alone would leave too little space for healthy tissue to settle.
Botox for a gummy smile
Botox relaxes the muscles that lift the upper lip, so less gum shows when you smile. A narrative review of 28 studies found it effective and low-risk for lip-driven gummy smiles, with the effect usually visible within 1–2 weeks (Fatani, Cureus, 2023). A 2018 meta-analysis measured an average 4.44 mm drop in gum display two weeks after injection (Chagas et al., Brazilian Oral Research, 2018).
Lip repositioning surgery
Lip repositioning surgery limits how far the upper lip can rise by removing a strip of tissue inside the lip and stitching it lower. One review reports an average reduction of 2.71 mm in gum display (Gonzales-Medina et al., 2021). A 2021 meta-analysis found the effect fades gradually after six months, with roughly a quarter of the improvement lost by month 12 (Santos-Pereira et al., 2021).
Orthodontics and jaw surgery
When the upper jaw has grown too far downward, jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) is the first-line recommendation. Many patients decline it because it requires a hospital stay and a longer recovery (Gonzales-Medina et al., 2021). For a full guide, see jaw surgery in Turkey.
Can You Fix a Gummy Smile Without Surgery?
Yes, but only when the upper lip is the cause. Botox is the main non-surgical treatment for a gummy smile, and it works by relaxing the lip muscles rather than changing the gums or teeth.
Botox has two trade-offs. The effect is temporary, lasting about 4–6 months, so repeat injections are usually needed (Fatani, Cureus, 2023). The evidence on how long it lasts is also thin: a 2018 meta-analysis found only three studies that met its quality criteria (Chagas et al., Brazilian Oral Research, 2018).
Lip fillers are a growing non-surgical alternative. A 2023 systematic review notes that hyaluronic acid fillers in the lip area typically last 10–18 months (Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023).
Non-surgical options cannot fix a gummy smile caused by excess gum, short-looking teeth or a low-set upper jaw. Those causes need gum treatment, orthodontics or surgery.
How Much Does Gummy Smile Treatment Cost in the UK and Turkey?
At Dr. Wonder Clinic in Istanbul, gum contouring costs £150–200 per tooth or £300–450 for the six upper front teeth (Dr. Wonder Clinic, 2026). In the UK, the same treatment typically costs £200–400 per tooth, or about £1,200–2,400 for six teeth, based on 2026 private-market estimates (Dentists Closeby, 2026). Gummy smile treatment is cosmetic, so in the UK it is almost always paid for privately rather than on the NHS (same source, citing NHS guidance).
Prices checked 25 October 2026.
| Treatment | UK private price (2026) | Dr. Wonder Clinic, Istanbul (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Gum contouring, per tooth | £200–400 (Dentists Closeby) | £150–200 |
| Gum contouring, upper 6 teeth | £1,200–2,400 (Dentists Closeby) | £300–450 |
| Gum contouring, full smile (10–12 teeth) | £1,200–2,200 (clinic estimate) | £450–600 |
| Crown lengthening, single tooth | £600–1,000 (clinic estimate) | £200–350 |
| Crown lengthening, multiple teeth | £1,000–2,000 (clinic estimate) | £400–700 |
| Gum contouring + veneers | £3,000–6,000 (clinic estimate) | £900–2,000 |
| Botox for a gummy smile | From about £150–175 (Glowday; London Lip Clinic) | Not on the published price list; ask at consultation |
Clinic prices are taken from the Dr. Wonder Clinic gum contouring price guide and are estimates that depend on an individual assessment.
The final price depends on the cause, the number of teeth treated and whether bone needs reshaping, so a fixed quote should only follow a clinical assessment. See our full guide to gum contouring cost in Turkey for package details.
Gummy Smile in Numbers
The research on gummy smiles points to one pattern: it is common, it often has more than one cause, and the non-surgical fixes do not last forever.
| Finding | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Share of the population with a gummy smile | About 10% | Amro et al., Scientific World Journal, 2026 |
| Patients whose gummy smile had more than one cause | 55.3% of 123 | Al Jasser et al., Saudi Dental Journal, 2024 |
| Patients where altered passive eruption was involved | 73.2% of 123 | Al Jasser et al., 2024 |
| Average drop in gum display 2 weeks after Botox | 4.44 mm | Chagas et al., Brazilian Oral Research, 2018 |
| Typical duration of Botox for a gummy smile | 4–6 months | Fatani, Cureus, 2023 |
| Relapse 12 months after lip repositioning surgery | About 25% | Santos-Pereira et al., 2021 |
What Most Gummy Smile Guides Don’t Tell You
Most gummy smile guides present treatments as a menu to pick from. The research points the other way: the first step should be a measurement, not a treatment.
One treatment is often not enough. More than half of patients in the 2024 Saudi study had two or more causes. The authors concluded that treatment should follow the cause and often combine several steps in sequence (Al Jasser et al., 2024). A patient with altered passive eruption and an overactive lip may need gum contouring and Botox, not one or the other.
The wrong treatment can remove healthy tissue. Gum contouring on a patient whose real cause is the lip or jaw takes away gum without changing how much shows. That is why the diagnostic checks above matter more than before-and-after photos.
“Quick fixes” fade. Botox wears off in months, and lip repositioning surgery loses roughly a quarter of its effect within a year. These are useful options, but patients should know the timeline before choosing.
Order matters when veneers are planned. Gum contouring should come first, and the gum needs four to eight weeks to heal and settle before veneers are fitted to the final gum line (Dr. Wonder Clinic, 2026). Fitting veneers before the gum line is set risks veneers that look too long or uneven once the gum heals.
Gummy Smile FAQ
How much gum showing is normal when you smile?
About 1–3 mm of visible gum is considered normal and part of an attractive smile (Gonzales-Medina et al., 2021). Above roughly 3 mm, dentists start to describe a smile as gummy.
How long does Botox for a gummy smile last?
Botox for a gummy smile usually lasts about 4–6 months before the lip muscles regain their strength (Fatani, Cureus, 2023). Repeat injections are needed to keep the result.
Is gum contouring permanent?
Gum contouring is generally a permanent change: once healed, the removed gum tissue does not grow back to its original position. Hormonal changes, some medications and poor gum health can still affect the result over time (Dr. Wonder Clinic, 2026; Dentists Closeby, 2026).
Can veneers fix a gummy smile?
Veneers alone do not reduce how much gum shows, because they change the teeth, not the gum line or lip. Dentists often combine gum contouring with veneers when the teeth also look short or uneven. See cost of veneers in Turkey.
Is gummy smile treatment available on the NHS?
Gummy smile treatment is cosmetic, so it is usually only available privately in the UK. The NHS funds treatment needed to keep the mouth healthy, not changes made for appearance (Dentists Closeby, 2026, citing NHS guidance).
Next Step: Find Out What Is Causing Your Gummy Smile
The right gummy smile treatment starts with knowing the cause, and that takes a few measurements rather than a guess from a photo. Once the cause is clear, the choice between gum contouring, crown lengthening, Botox, lip surgery or orthodontics usually becomes straightforward.
Dr. Wonder Clinic offers a free consultation for gum contouring. Send a few smiling photos through the Get an Offer form or on WhatsApp to start your assessment.
If your teeth also look short, uneven or discoloured, our guide to Digital Smile Design in Turkey explains how the gum line and teeth are planned together.
About the author: This guide was written by the Dr. Wonder Clinic dental team in Istanbul, where gum contouring and crown lengthening are carried out by periodontists and oral surgeons using laser or electrosurgical techniques. About Dr. Wonder Clinic
