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A gummy smile — clinically called Excessive Gingival Display — can be corrected with five main treatments depending on its cause: Botox injections (temporary, 3–6 months), gingivectomy or gum contouring (permanent surgical reshaping), crown lengthening (bone-level correction), orthodontics (for tooth position issues), or lip repositioning surgery (for a hyperactive upper lip). Most cases are fixed with gum contouring alone, often combined with crown restorations. A real 2026 case treated at Smile Dental Turkey corrected a severe gummy smile with surgical contouring and 24 Zirconium crowns for a total of £5,450.
What Is a Gummy Smile — and Why Does It Happen?
A gummy smile means more gum tissue is visible than aesthetically balanced when you smile. Most dentists define it as more than 3–4mm of gum showing above the upper teeth during a full smile. It’s more common than most people realise — and far more correctable than most people know.
The cause matters because the right treatment depends entirely on what’s actually causing the excess gum display. There are four main culprits:
Hyperactive upper lip — the lip lifts too high when smiling, exposing more gum than a normally mobile lip would. This is the most straightforward cause to address temporarily with Botox.
Excess gum tissue — the gums cover too much of the tooth surface, making teeth appear shorter than they are. The teeth underneath may be perfectly normal size; they’re just hidden. This is corrected surgically with gum contouring (gingivectomy).
Teeth position — the front teeth sit too far forward or haven’t fully erupted. Orthodontic treatment addresses the positioning issue.
Jaw structure — the upper jawbone is slightly too long vertically, causing the gum line to sit lower than normal. This is the least common cause and the most involved to correct surgically.
Getting the diagnosis right before choosing a treatment is essential. I’ve seen patients who were offered Botox for what was actually a gum tissue issue — a temporary fix for a permanent structural problem. An accurate assessment changes everything.
The 5 Treatments for a Gummy Smile: Compared
1. Botox Injections — The Temporary Fix
Best for: Hyperactive upper lip How it works: Small doses of botulinum toxin are injected into the muscles that elevate the upper lip, limiting how high the lip rises during smiling. Results: Visible within 5–7 days, lasting 3–6 months Cost in UK: £150–£350 per treatment session Cost in Turkey: £80–£150 per session
The honest caveat: Botox is the quickest and least invasive option — but it addresses only the symptom, not the cause, and requires ongoing maintenance every few months indefinitely. For patients whose gummy smile is caused by excess gum tissue or jaw structure, Botox will have no visible effect at all.
2. Gingivectomy (Gum Contouring) — The Permanent Reshaping Fix
Best for: Excess gum tissue covering the teeth How it works: A cosmetic dentist or periodontist surgically removes and reshapes excess gum tissue to expose more of the tooth crown. In more advanced cases, the underlying bone is also recontoured (crown lengthening — see below). Results: Permanent. Healing takes 2–4 weeks; final aesthetic result visible at 6–8 weeks. Cost in UK: £1,000–£3,500 depending on extent Cost in Turkey: £400–£900
“Gum contouring is one of the most underappreciated cosmetic dental procedures. The transformation can be dramatic — we’re not changing the teeth at all, just revealing the tooth that was always there underneath the excess tissue. In combination with crown restorations, the result is a completely different smile.” — Özlem Gültekinler, D.D.S., Smile Dental Turkey
3. Crown Lengthening — The Bone-Level Fix
Best for: Cases where gum tissue removal alone isn’t sufficient, or where the bone sits too close to the desired gum margin How it works: Combines gum tissue removal with surgical reshaping of the underlying alveolar bone, creating a stable, permanently lower gum line. Without addressing the bone, gum tissue can partially grow back over time. Results: Permanent, with more stable long-term outcomes than gingivectomy alone in complex cases Cost in UK: £1,500–£4,000 Cost in Turkey: £600–£1,200
Crown lengthening is the gold standard for severe or complex gummy smile cases. It takes longer to heal than gingivectomy alone — typically 3–4 months before final restorations can be placed — but produces the most durable result.
- Orthodontics — The Repositioning Fix
Best for: Gummy smile caused by tooth position or incomplete eruption How it works: Braces or clear aligners reposition the teeth vertically, reducing the amount of gum visible during smiling. Results: 12–24 months treatment time; permanent results Cost in UK: £3,000–£8,000 Cost in Turkey: £1,500–£3,500
Orthodontics is the right choice when the underlying cause is truly positional — but it’s a longer commitment and won’t help at all if the cause is excess gum tissue or a hyperactive lip.
- Lip Repositioning Surgery — The Structural Fix
Best for: Hyperactive upper lip that doesn’t respond adequately to Botox, or patients seeking a permanent solution to lip mobility How it works: A small strip of tissue is removed from inside the upper lip, surgically limiting how high the lip can elevate during smiling. Results: Permanent Cost in UK: £2,000–£5,000 Cost in Turkey: £800–£2,000
This is the most involved surgical option for lip-caused gummy smiles and is less commonly performed than the other treatments — but for the right patient, it delivers a permanent result without ongoing Botox maintenance.
A Real Case: Gummy Smile Correction + Full Smile Makeover for £5,450
The Patient
A UK patient — referred to as P.S. — travelled to Smile Dental Turkey in Antalya with a pronounced gummy smile and worn, uneven teeth. The gum display was significant enough that the teeth appeared short and disproportionate — the classic presentation of excess gum tissue combined with teeth that would benefit from crown restoration.
The treatment plan combined two procedures: surgical gum contouring to correct the gummy smile, followed by 24 Zirconium Porcelain Crowns to complete the smile makeover.
The Clinical Approach
Stage 1 — Gum Contouring: Precision surgical contouring was performed to remove excess gum tissue and redefine the gum line symmetrically across the upper arch. A Gengigel healing protocol was used post-operatively — Gengigel is a hyaluronic acid-based gel applied to surgical sites that accelerates soft tissue healing and reduces post-operative discomfort. This is a step many clinics skip; we include it as standard because the quality of gum healing directly affects the final cosmetic result.
A healing period was observed before crown preparation began — placing crowns on freshly operated gum tissue before it has stabilised produces poor aesthetic margins.
Stage 2 — 24 Zirconium Porcelain Crowns: Once gum healing was confirmed, 24 Zirconium Porcelain Crowns were placed across the full arch — now exposing the correct proportion of tooth surface relative to the corrected gum line. P.S. selected a Natural Style shape and shade 2L1.5 — a clean, natural white that photographs well without looking artificial.
The Full Cost Breakdown (GBP)
| Treatment | Cost |
| Gum Contouring (Gingivectomy) | Included |
| 24 × Zirconium Porcelain Crowns | Core treatment |
| Gengigel Post-Op Protocol | Included |
| Total (after discounts) | £5,450 |
UK Cost Comparison
| Treatment | Smile Dental Turkey | UK Private Estimate |
| Gum Contouring | Included | £1,500–£3,500 |
| 24 × Zirconium Crowns | Included | £24,000–£36,000 |
| Total | £5,450 | £25,500–£39,500+ |
UK estimates based on published cosmetic dental price surveys and British Dental Association 2025 guidance. Read the full case study for gummy smile makeover correction.
Which Gummy Smile Treatment Is Right for You?
| Cause | Best Treatment | Permanent? | Typical Timeline |
| Hyperactive lip | Botox | No (3–6 months) | Same day |
| Excess gum tissue | Gingivectomy | Yes | 6–8 weeks to final result |
| Bone position | Crown Lengthening | Yes | 3–4 months to final result |
| Tooth position | Orthodontics | Yes | 12–24 months |
| Lip mobility | Lip Repositioning Surgery | Yes | 6–8 weeks to final result |
The most important step is identifying the cause first. A proper clinical assessment — which can be initiated remotely with photos and X-rays at most accredited clinics — will tell you exactly which treatment applies to your situation before you commit to anything.
FAQ: Gummy Smile Correction
Is gummy smile correction painful? Surgical procedures (gingivectomy, crown lengthening, lip repositioning) are performed under local anaesthetic — you won’t feel pain during the procedure. Post-operative discomfort is typically mild and managed with standard over-the-counter pain relief for the first 48–72 hours. Botox injections involve only a minor needle prick with no recovery time.
How much gum is normal when smiling? Most aesthetic guidelines consider 0–2mm of gum display when smiling to be ideal. 3–4mm is generally within an acceptable range. More than 4mm of consistent gum display when smiling is typically classified as Excessive Gingival Display and is a candidate for correction.
Will gum tissue grow back after contouring? With gingivectomy alone (no bone work), there is a small risk of partial tissue regrowth if the bone sits close to the new gum margin. Crown lengthening — which also reshapes the underlying bone — produces a more permanently stable result. Your dentist will recommend the appropriate procedure based on your specific anatomy.
Can I get gummy smile treatment combined with veneers or crowns? Yes — and in many cases this is the optimal approach. Gum contouring reveals more of the tooth surface; crowns or veneers then restore the shape, colour, and proportion of the teeth. The case study above (£5,450) is a clear example of how the two procedures work together for a complete transformation.
How do I find out which treatment I need? Submit photos and X-rays to an accredited cosmetic dentist for a remote assessment. Reputable clinics will provide a written treatment plan and diagnosis before you commit to travel or treatment. Smile Dental Turkey offers this as a free consultation — details at smiledentalturkey.com.
Is gummy smile correction available as part of a Turkey dental package? Yes. Smile Dental Turkey’s fix a gummy smile guide outlines the full treatment options available, and gum contouring is routinely combined with crown or veneer packages for international patients. Turkey teeth packages covering treatment, airport transfers, and hotel accommodation are available for patients travelling from the UK and Europe.
About the Author
Özlem Gültekinler, D.D.S. is a cosmetic dentist at Smile Dental Turkey, Antalya, specialising in smile design, gum contouring, Zirconium crown work, and full-arch aesthetic rehabilitation for international patients — primarily from the UK, Ireland, and Northern Europe.
This article is based on clinical practice and a verified patient case treated at Smile Dental Turkey in 2025. Patient identity is protected; initials used with consent. UK cost comparisons reference British Dental Association 2025 private fee guidance and published cosmetic dental price surveys.