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Lip repositioning — the lip switch

Some patients are happy with their teeth and their gum line, and still show far more gum than they want to when they smile. The reason is the lip: it travels further than average. A lip repositioning procedure limits that travel, so less gum tissue is displayed when you smile, laugh and speak.

It treats the cause rather than the symptom in those cases, which is why the distinction matters: if the gum itself sits too low, or the teeth are short, crown lengthening is the correct procedure instead. Some patients need one, some the other.

Recovery is quick. The results in both cases below were photographed roughly one week after surgery.

Which procedure is which

Lip repositioning
Your teeth and gum line are fine — the lip simply lifts too far. Surgery limits the lift.
Crown lengthening
Excess gum tissue is covering teeth that are the right size. Surgery removes and recontours the tissue. See cases.
Both, sometimes
A consultation establishes which is causing what, before anything is scheduled.

Two lip repositioning cases

Open in the case gallery

Case 01 · One week post-operative

Bothered by it her whole life

This 27-year-old presented with the chief complaint that she did not like her gummy smile, and reported being bothered by the excessive amount of gum tissue her whole life. She was pleased with the appearance of her teeth but wanted to show less gum when she smiled, laughed and spoke. After discussing the options available to her she elected to proceed with a lip repositioning procedure. The results here are one week following surgery.

After: close-up of the same smile one week after lip repositioning, showing markedly less gum tissue.
Before: close-up of the patient's smile showing a wide band of gum tissue above the upper teeth.
Before After
Lip switch case #1 Drag to compare

Case 02 · Lip repositioning

Less gum on display, same teeth

A second lip repositioning case treated in this office, showing reduced gum display when smiling.

Before: portrait of the patient smiling, showing gum tissue above the upper teeth.
Before
After: portrait of the patient smiling following lip repositioning, showing less gum tissue.
After

Find out which procedure you actually need.

Excessive gum display has more than one cause. A consultation identifies yours.

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