Show patients their result before they treat.
Excess gum show above the upper teeth when smiling, often from a hyperactive upper-lip muscle.
Sarah Jenkins
Plan #4223 • Mid Face
Recommended Protocol
Neuromodulators
Botox • For Gummy Smile
Hydrating lip masks
At-home maintenance
A gummy smile — excess gum show above the upper teeth when smiling — is usually caused by a hyperactive muscle that lifts the upper lip too high. It's treated with a few units of neuromodulator like Botox or Dysport to relax those muscles so the lip doesn't rise as far, reducing gum show. Results appear within a few days and last about 3–4 months.
A gummy smile is when an excess amount of gum tissue shows above the upper teeth when smiling. It's frequently caused by a hyperactive muscle that lifts the upper lip too high, and it can make patients self-conscious about their smile.
For a practice, the gummy smile is a high-impact, fast treatment that delivers a result patients notice immediately in the mirror. The clinical goal is to relax the lip elevators so the smile shows less gum while staying natural. Letting the patient preview the projected, balanced smile on their own photo turns a hesitant inquiry into a booked treatment and often opens the door to lip work.
Gummy Smile
Where it appears
Lips, Mouth
Facial area
Mid Face
Treatment paths
5
From in-clinic procedures to at-home regimens, Afters maps the full range of options — so patients can see what each one would do for them, on their own photo, before they commit.
Professional procedures performed by a provider to target the concern directly.
Branded injectables and medical products providers use for this concern.
Medical-grade products patients use between visits to maintain results.
Patients rarely come in for just one thing. Browse other concerns Afters can visualize.
Common questions patients ask about gummy smile — and what practices should be ready to answer.
Most often a hyperactive muscle that elevates the upper lip too high when smiling, though a short upper lip, excess gum tissue, or tooth proportions can also contribute.
A few units of neuromodulator placed near the base of the nose relax the muscles that over-elevate the upper lip, so it doesn't rise as far and less gum shows when you smile.
Results typically last 3–4 months. With regular treatment the effect can become easier to maintain over time.
The effect is temporary and wears off naturally over a few months, so any result simply relaxes back to baseline — there's no permanent change.
In some cases lip filler or a lip flip complements the neuromodulator to balance the smile, depending on the underlying cause. A provider can assess the best combination.
Afters simulates the outcome on a patient's own photo and builds a visual 12-month plan — so consults convert and average ticket climbs.