Gummy Smile Worse During Braces? How Can We Fix It?

This patient started braces to straighten her teeth, but partway through treatment, she noticed that her gummy smile was getting WORSE! In this video, Dr. Lucy Johnson walks through what happened, why it happened, and how Aesthetic Crown Lengthening transformed her smile.

Braces make brushing and flossing harder. When plaque builds up around orthodontic brackets, the gums react by becoming swollen and inflamed. Over time, that inflammation can turn into thick, fibrotic gum tissue that doesn’t shrink back, even after the braces come off or after a professional cleaning. At that point, the only way to correct it is with a surgical procedure called Aesthetic Crown Lengthening.

During the procedure, we removed the excess gum tissue and also reshaped the underlying bone, which prevents the gums from growing back. This restored the patient’s natural tooth proportions by exposing more tooth structure and giving the patient a healthier and more balanced smile. Crown Lengthening not only improves the appearance of a gummy smile but also makes it easier to clean and gives the orthodontist better access to continue moving the teeth.

In this video, you’ll see:

• Before and after images
• Why gummy smiles often appear during orthodontics
• How crown lengthening works
• How this procedure helps with hygiene, tooth proportions, and long-term stability
• Final results from this case

If you feel like your gums look puffier after braces or you just don’t like your gummy smile, schedule a consultation. Aesthetic Crown Lengthening might be the solution you’ve been looking for!