This patient received 4 units of Botox to treat her gummy smile. There are several muscles associated with the upper lip and smiling, and the appropriate muscles must be targeted in order to reduce the amount of gingival display, while maintaining a beautiful and natural appearing smile.Identifying the cause of the gummy smile is important when determining whether Botox or other neuromodulators are an appropriate treatment option. Gummy smile, also referred to as excessive gingival display, can be due to soft tissue and/or bone related reasons. For example, gummy smile can be due to hyperactivity of muscles that control the upper lip, a short upper lip, overgrowth of the jaw, and/or excess gingival tissue. Of note, Botox treatment for gummy smile is not approved by the FDA and is considered “off label” use.
(Sep 2, 2020)