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Confident woman with beautiful balanced smile after gummy smile treatment at AQUA Dent Clinics, Jeddah

Gummy Smile Treatment in Jeddah 2026 — When You Need It and When You Do Not

A gummy smile in Jeddah has 5 different causes, and each cause has a completely different treatment. The AQUA Dent periodontal team explains: when crown lengthening is needed, when Botox is enough, when jaw surgery is required, real 2026 cost, and when no treatment is needed at all.

A gummy smile is the visible appearance of more than 3 to 4 mm of gum tissue when smiling at full width. About 14% of women and 7% of men experience it to varying degrees, but not every case needs treatment — and the right treatment depends on the actual cause, not just on appearance.

This guide from the team at periodontics at AQUA Dent Clinics, Jeddah — led by Dr. Mohamed Assaggaf, Periodontist and Assistant Professor at King Abdulaziz University — explains the five different causes of a gummy smile, the difference between treatments (crown lengthening, Botox, lip stabilization, orthodontics), real cost, and when you do not need treatment at all.

Reading time: 12 minutes · By the AQUA Dent team · May 2026

What Is a Gummy Smile, Really?

A gummy smile is not a disease — it is an aesthetic observation. Dentists measure “gingival display on smiling” with a simple scale:

  • Less than 3 mm — a normal smile, no cosmetic intervention needed.
  • 3 to 4 mm — a mild gummy smile — improvable without surgery in most cases.
  • 4 to 6 mm — a moderate gummy smile — needs planning by a specialist team.
  • More than 6 mm — a severe gummy smile — needs multidisciplinary treatment.

The Five Different Causes — Each Has a Completely Different Treatment

Cause 1: Altered Passive Eruption

The gum did not fully recede after the permanent teeth erupted, so it covers a larger portion of the tooth crown. The teeth look short, and the gum looks excessive. This is the most common cause — and the appropriate treatment is aesthetic crown lengthening.

Cause 2: Hypermobile Upper Lip

The upper lip muscles contract more than normal during a full smile, lifting the lip to a high position and exposing perfectly healthy gums. This is very common in women, especially after their thirties. The simplest treatment: targeted Botox injection into the upper lip muscles (lasts 4 to 6 months, repeated every 6 months).

Cause 3: Vertical Maxillary Excess

The upper jaw grows longer than normal vertically, increasing the distance between the nose and lip. This is a skeletal cause, not a gum cause. Treatment is surgical (Le Fort I osteotomy), or with growth-modification orthodontics in children before jaw growth completes.

Cause 4: Gingival Hyperplasia

Gum overgrowth caused by certain medications (phenytoin, cyclosporine, blood pressure medications), chronic gum inflammation, or inadequate oral hygiene. Here treatment starts by addressing the medical cause or doing a deep cleaning before considering any cosmetic intervention.

Cause 5: Naturally Short Teeth

The teeth themselves are short (either congenitally or due to wear from grinding). The answer here is not to cut the gum, but to lengthen the teeth with veneers or porcelain restorations.

How We Identify the Right Cause at AQUA Dent Clinics

Correct diagnosis takes 3 steps in a single visit:

  1. Dynamic smile analysis: we record video while you talk, smile, and laugh naturally — to measure your real lip movement, not just a posed photo smile.
  2. 3D imaging with CBCT: to assess upper jaw growth, tooth-to-bone ratio, and the gum’s vertical position.
  3. Periodontal probing: to determine whether the gum tissue is genuinely excessive or whether the tooth itself is short.

Aesthetic Crown Lengthening — The Most Common Treatment

When the cause is altered passive eruption (the most common cause), the answer is aesthetic crown lengthening (Aesthetic Crown Lengthening). The procedure:

  • Performed under local anesthesia (no general anesthesia needed).
  • Duration: 60 to 90 minutes for 6 to 10 front teeth.
  • The gum is reshaped and a small amount of bone is removed (to prevent the gum from rebounding).
  • Initial healing in 7 to 10 days, the final result is visible after 3 to 6 months (after the gum stabilizes).
  • The result is permanent in most cases — no repeat treatment needed.

Botox for a Gummy Smile — Reality, Not Marketing

Botox injection into the upper lip muscles is an excellent solution for one specific cause only: lip hypermobility (Cause 2 above). If your gummy smile has a different cause, Botox will not help — in fact, it may temporarily mask the real problem.

A single injection lasts 4 to 6 months, and the cost at AQUA Dent ranges from SAR 800 to 1,500. Advantages: no surgery, results visible within 3 to 7 days. Disadvantages: requires repeating every 6 months, and may affect speech clarity if given at a higher than indicated dose.

Orthodontics — When Is It the Answer?

If the gummy smile is caused by vertical maxillary excess, orthodontics alone may not be enough — especially after age 25. But in children and adolescents, early orthodontic treatment combined with growth-modification appliances (Growth modification) can correct the problem before jaw growth completes. This is one of the reasons the first orthodontic evaluation at age 7 recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists is so important.

Cost of Gummy Smile Treatment in Jeddah 2026

Pricing at AQUA Dent Clinics, Jeddah (May 2026):

  • First consultation and diagnosis: often waived (includes the smile analysis and CBCT if needed).
  • Aesthetic crown lengthening (per arch): from SAR 5,500 to 9,500.
  • Therapeutic crown lengthening (per tooth): from SAR 3,500 to 6,000.
  • Laser gum reshaping (for mild cases, per arch): from SAR 2,500 to 4,500.
  • Botox for the upper lip: from SAR 800 to 1,500 per session.
  • Orthognathic upper jaw surgery: determined after diagnosis (requires a multidisciplinary team plus general anesthesia).
  • Porcelain veneers to lengthen the teeth (per tooth): from SAR 1,500 to 2,500.

When You Should Not Treat a Gummy Smile

An honest answer: in 3 scenarios, we recommend against treatment:

  1. If the visible gum is less than 3 mm — this falls within a normal smile; cosmetic intervention has no functional benefit.
  2. If you are dissatisfied because of unflattering photos — sometimes a camera smile differs from your real smile. Dynamic video analysis reveals this.
  3. If you are experiencing body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) — cosmetic treatment will not solve the underlying issue. We refer you with care to a mental health professional before any intervention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is gummy smile treatment painful?

Aesthetic crown lengthening is performed under local anesthesia — no pain during the procedure. After the session, mild congestion for 2 to 4 days controlled with regular Panadol or ibuprofen. Not more painful than a deep filling.

How long until the final result is visible?

The initial result is visible immediately after the dressing is removed (7 to 10 days). The final result and full stabilization of the gum tissue takes 3 to 6 months — so we schedule follow-up appointments along this timeline.

Can the gum return to its previous position?

If the procedure is performed correctly (with reshaping the bone underneath the gum and not just cutting the gum), the result is permanent. The most common reason for the problem returning is the “gum-only cut” approach without addressing the bone — and this is what we avoid at AQUA Dent.

Does insurance cover gummy smile treatment?

Usually no — most private insurance companies consider it a cosmetic treatment. The exception: if the gummy smile is caused by medication-related gum overgrowth, some insurers cover the treatment as part of medical management. AQUA Dent Clinics does not bill insurance directly — we prepare the full reimbursement paperwork so you can file with your insurer yourself.

Can the treatment be combined with veneers?

Yes, and this combination is the most common for full cosmetic results. The order: crown lengthening first, then a 3 to 6 month wait for the gum to stabilize, then veneers placed on the new, longer teeth. This is known as a “Full Smile Makeover.”

The Next Step

If you are considering gummy smile treatment in Jeddah, the first step is a diagnostic consultation to identify the actual cause. During the visit, we perform a dynamic smile analysis, CBCT imaging if needed, and periodontal probing — then we explain the options without pressure.

To book:

Or learn more about periodontics and cosmetic dentistry at AQUA Dent Clinics.

About the author: This article is written by the periodontology team at AQUA Dent Clinics, Jeddah, led by Dr. Mohamed Assaggaf — Periodontist and Assistant Professor at King Abdulaziz University, member of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). The article does not replace personal consultation.