When was the last time that you changed your brand or type of contact lens? If you have been using the same brand and type of contact lenses for several years, it may be time for you to learn about the newer versions that are on the market today. You may find that there is no longer the need to struggle with putting your lenses in each day, cleaning them, and messing around with those little storage containers. Extended wear contact lenses may be an option for you like they are for me. After being told five years ago that I could not wear extended wear lenses, the design of them have changed and I now wear them for an entire week before removing them! Learn more about the various contact lenses on the market today to help yourself, find some that are perfectly comfortable and less of an inconvenience!
Do you have what's known as a "gummy" smile? In other words, your smile naturally exposes a lot of your gums, which may make you feel self-conscious and unattractive. If your overexposed gums make you hesitant to smile, consider seeing a cosmetic dentist for a consultation. The problem can often be corrected. Here's what you should know.
The problem might not be your gums: it could be the muscles in your lips.
The movement of your upper lip when you smile might be the cause of your gummy smile. If you have "hypermobile" elevator muscles in your upper lip, your smile might draw up and back too far, exposing more of your gums than you'd like to see. Or, your muscles may simply be positioned in such a way that they cause the center part of your upper lip to raise further than it does on the edges, making a slight apex that exposes too much of your gums.
If the problem is muscular, the solution can be surgical lip repositioning. The cuts to the muscle in your upper lip are done inside your mouth so that there's no visible scar afterward. It takes about two weeks to recover from the surgery, but the pain is usually managed with anti-inflammatory drugs. There is a risk of infection, so you'll probably be put on antibiotics for a few weeks after the procedure, but the procedure is generally considered to be safe and minimally invasive.
The problem might not be your lips: it could be short teeth.
Does the reason for your gummy smile seem to be short teeth? It's possible that your teeth are actually too deeply hidden in your gum line, making them look small and short. Sometimes only a few teeth are covered by excess gum tissue, in which case your teeth may look uneven and lopsided when they're actually straight.
To correct the aesthetic appearance of your teeth, a procedure known as "crown lengthening" is done. The dentist can cut the excess gum tissue away and contour your gum line with a laser cutting tool designed for that purpose.
The procedure usually takes only one office visit to complete and is done with a local anesthetic. The laser cauterizes the wounds to the gum as it goes, reducing healing time and the chances of an infection. Your gums may be sore for about a week after the procedure and you should limit yourself to soft foods that don't have a lot of spices in them. Otherwise, the healing gum tissue can be unnecessarily irritated.
If either of these procedures appeal to you, consider discussing options with a local cosmetic dentist, such as Maddalena Louis D.M.D. They may also be able to provide additional advice and will help you find the best way to improve your smile.
Share