Women & Men
Gummy smile treatments
Quick, in-office treatments.
Treatments designed with your comfort & recovery time in mind.
Results aligned to your personal preferences.
Treatment plans that prioritise ongoing care, and lasting results.
A gummy smile occurs when excessive gum tissue is exposed while smiling—often due to overactive upper lip muscles, a small lip, or imbalance in teeth and gum proportions. This can disrupt facial balance and draw attention away from your natural features.
At Cosmetic Connection, we offer personalised consultations to develop tailored gummy smile treatment plans. Our goal is to subtly reduce upper gum exposure by targeting the specific causes of your gummy smile. Whether you’re looking to refine your smile proportions or improve overall facial harmony, our experienced clinicians will customise your treatment to suit your individual goals and facial features.
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Why book a consultation to address your gummy smile?
We offer a range of effective gummy smile treatments, starting with a personalised consultation to explore your options and recommend what's right for you.
Non-Surgical Solutions
Avoid surgery, general anaesthesia, and lengthy recovery times.
Natural and Customisable Results
Provides personalised, natural-looking results tailored to your individual needs and expectations.
Highly Precise and Targeted Treatment
Precisely targets specific causes of your gummy smile, addressing your concerns with high accuracy.
Easily Combined with Other Treatments
Can be integrated into a broader non-surgical facial balancing plan for optimal results.
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Why thousands choose Cosmetic Connection
We are dedicated to your service and satisfaction.
Pay your preferred way with our range of flexible payment options, including cash, card, Afterpay*, Zip Pay*, and payment plans via Total Lifestyle Credit* (*Subject to approval: required before your appointment).
Medical-grade clinical environments designed with your privacy, comfort and convenience in mind.
We have implemented strict safety and hygiene protocols aligned with industry-leading standards.
We choose our products, techniques and technologies based on quality, safety, and efficacy.
Our clinicians strive to remain up-to-date on best practice, and make no compromises on the quality of your treatment.
Your satisfaction is one of our top priorities.
Our treatments come with a range of guarantees because we are confident in our ability to deliver.
What causes a gummy smile?
A “gummy smile” occurs when a significant amount of gum tissue, typically more than 2-3mm, is visible above the upper teeth when smiling. There are several factors that can contribute to this appearance, and understanding the underlying cause is key to determining the most suitable approach for addressing it.
One common reason for a gummy smile is hyperactive muscles that elevate the upper lip, causing it to rise too high during a smile. Other contributing factors can include naturally thin lips or lips that become thinner when smiling, which can make the gums appear more prominent. Additionally, the size and proportion of the teeth themselves can play a role; if teeth appear shorter, the surrounding gum tissue might seem comparatively larger. Excess gum tissue or even a longer upper jawbone can also be underlying causes of a gummy smile.
How to treat your gummy smile
If you don’t like the appearance of a gummy smile, there are various treatment options available. The most suitable treatment approach for a gummy smile depends entirely on its underlying cause, as identified during a thorough an in person assessment.
The primary non-surgical treatments often recommended for improving a gummy smile focus on the muscles that elevate the upper lip, the volume of the lips themselves, or a combination of these factors to create a more balanced and harmonious smile.
By addressing the muscles that elevate the top lip, it sits lower, covering more of the gum tissue when smiling.
By treating the top lip muscle, it won’t curl under when you smile, for a less “gummy” appearance.
Adding volume can subtly enhance the fullness of the upper lip. This can help to naturally camouflage a gummy smile by creating more coverage over the gums when you smile.
This procedure involves carefully re-shaping or removing a small amount of excess gum tissue. It aims to expose more of the natural tooth surface, creating a more balanced tooth-to-gum ratio.
This category encompasses various dental treatments, such as veneers, crowns, or bonding, which can alter the appearance of short or small teeth. By making the teeth appear longer or more proportionate, cosmetic dentistry can reduce the perception of a gummy smile.
In cases where a gummy smile is caused by an excessively long upper jawbone, corrective jaw surgery may be considered. This more invasive procedure repositions the jaw to improve the balance between the gums, teeth, and facial structure.
We want to answer any questions you may have.
If you can’t find the answers to your questions, get in touch with us and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Cosmetic Connection is a dedicated gummy smile treatment clinic in Melbourne and Sydney. Our clinic excels in providing a first-class service, and our cosmetic doctors are some of the most experienced in the country.
We offer a purely bespoke approach to gummy smile treatments in Sydney and Melbourne, and will work with you to understand your concerns and develop a bespoke treatment plan to achieve your aesthetic goals.
If you want tailored gummy smile treatments in Sydney and Melbourne, choose the cosmetic doctors at Cosmetic Connection.
A gummy smile is defined as a smile with more than 2-3mm of visible gum.
Excessive gum show can be caused by:
- Strong smile and lip elevating muscles
- Excess gingival gum tissue
- Short upper teeth
- A long upper jaw
- A thin top lip
Gummy smiles are usually caused by hyperactivity of the muscles that lift your top lip. These muscles are:
- Levator labii superioris
- Levator labii superioris aleque nasi
- Zygomaticus minor
An overactive obicularis oris muscle can contribute to the appearance of a gummy smile.
Other less common causes of a gummy smile include:
- Excessive gum tissue above the upper teeth (known as gingival hyperplasia)
- Short upper teeth
- A long upper jaw (maxilla bone)
Gummy smiles tend to run in the family as we inherit certain facial features from our parents. However, some people may develop a gummy smile with inheriting it.
Yes, a gummy smile has many treatment options depending on the cause. The most common way we treat a gummy smile is by relaxing upper lip muscles, and volumising the lip area.
Many children grow out of their gummy smile as their upper jaw develops. The jaw bones continue to grow until early adulthood, and other factors such as dental work and braces can affect the development of a gummy smile.
You won’t know if your child will outgrow their gummy smile until they enter their late teenage years.
Braces and Invisalign are unlikely to improve the appearance of a gummy smile.
Aligning the teeth will not treat the causes of a gummy smile. In fact, gum irritation from braces and Invisalign may cause gingival hyperplasia (more gum tissue), making a gummy smile worse.
The following treatment options are available for those concerned about a gummy smile:
- Orthognatic (jaw) surgery: expensive, and more risk and downtime compared with non-surgical options
- Gum lift to reduce excessive gum tissue: more expensive and painful than non-surgical treatments
- Cosmetic dentistry and veneers: good for short teeth, but costly and will permanently damage the underlying teeth
- Relaxing muscles: great for a gummy smile caused by strong lip lifting muscles
- Adding volume: an option for those with a thin top lip, helping to cover visible gum tissue
As everyone has their own belief about what is and isn’t attractive there is no definitive answer about whether a gummy smile is attractive. Some people do find gummy smiles to be an attractive facial feature while others prefer smiles without excessive gum show.
Gummy smile treatments are designed to create a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing smile by addressing the display of excessive gum tissue. This non-surgical approach often involves a combination of techniques.
One common method relaxes upper lip elevator muscles. By relaxing these muscles, the treatment helps to subtly lower the upper lip, reducing the amount of gum visible when you smile. In some cases, adding volume to your lips can make them fuller, concealing your gums when you smile. These treatments aim to achieve a natural-looking enhancement, ensuring your smile feels and looks confident.
Gummy smile treatments are known for being quite quick, often taking as little as 10 to 20 minutes to perform. The actual treatment itself is very fast, with most of the appointment time dedicated to a thorough consultation and assessment beforehand to ensure the best approach for your individual needs.
Most individuals find gummy smile treatments to be quite tolerable, with minimal discomfort. Any sensation experienced is usually fleeting, often described as a slight pinch or a brief sting. Practitioners also use techniques to enhance comfort during the treatment, aiming for a generally gentle experience.
For gummy smile treatments that involve relaxing the upper lip muscles, you’ll typically begin to see the results emerge gradually. It usually takes around 3 to 7 days to notice the initial effects, with the full outcome becoming visible within 1 to 2 weeks after the treatment.
If your treatment also includes lip volume, you’ll likely observe an immediate enhancement in lip shape and volume. However, the overall refined appearance of your smile, considering both aspects of the treatment, will settle in over the following days to weeks.
The longevity of gummy smile treatments can vary, but generally, treatments that relax upper lip muscles typically last between 3 to 4 months. Treatments for lip volume can last from 12-24 months depending on the product, and how your body metabolises it. To maintain your desired results, repeat treatments are necessary over time.
Following gummy smile treatments, you can generally expect a smooth and comfortable recovery. You might experience some very minor and temporary effects, such as slight redness or tenderness at the treatment sites, but these typically resolve quickly.
The most noticeable change will be the gradual settling of your upper lip, creating a more balanced smile as the muscle relaxation takes effect over the following week or two. If your lips were volumised, you’ll see an immediate enhancement, which will also settle naturally. Most individuals find they can return to their usual activities almost immediately after the procedure.
Gummy smile treatments are widely considered safe when administered by a skilled and experienced medical professional. These non-surgical procedures primarily involve relaxing muscles and adding volume, both of which have an established safety profile in cosmetic applications.
While generally safe, as with any treatment, there is a small risk of minor, temporary side effects such as localised bruising, swelling, or tenderness at the treatment sites. Serious complications are extremely rare. The key to ensuring safety lies in choosing a reputable clinic with practitioners who have a deep understanding of facial anatomy and who customise the treatment to your specific needs.
Your Journey
Step 1 of 3
Your personalised consultation
Your journey to a refreshed look begins with a private, in-depth consultation. Our friendly and expert team will attentively listen to your aesthetic goals and concerns, taking the time to understand your unique facial structure.
We’ll clearly explain all your available options, detailing how each treatment works, their potential outcomes, and longevity. This empowers you to make a truly informed decision. It’s also a comfortable space for you to ask any questions, discuss results, potential risks, aftercare, and costs, ensuring you feel confident and build trust with your practitioner.
Your Journey
Step 2 of 3
Expert treatment & care
Once you’re ready, our highly skilled practitioners will meticulously perform your chosen treatment with the utmost care and precision. We understand that some treatments can be uncomfortable, which is why we offer a range of numbing options to alleviate any concerns about pain. Your safety, comfort, and the delivery of natural results that align perfectly with your expectations are our top priorities.
With emergency equipment readily available on-site and generous appointment times, we guarantee your safety is paramount and that your treatment is never rushed.
Your Journey
Step 3 of 3
Enjoy your refreshed look
Thanks to your personalised treatment, you can now look forward to aligning how you look with how you feel. We’ll provide you with detailed post-treatment care instructions to ensure a swift and smooth healing process.
To further support you, all treatments performed at Cosmetic Connection include an optional complimentary follow-up appointment and are backed by our satisfaction guarantees, ensuring your complete peace of mind.
