Gummy Smile Treatment Ireland — Before and After, Causes and What to Expect

A gummy smile — where more gum than you'd like shows when you smile — is one of the most common concerns our doctors treat at Sisu Clinic across Ireland. The treatment is quick, affordable, and surprisingly effective. This post explains what causes a gummy smile, what the treatment actually involves, what to expect from the results, and what the before and after difference looks like for real patients.

What is a gummy smile?

A gummy smile is medically defined as two millimetres or more of gum tissue visible above the upper teeth when smiling. It affects around 14% of women and 7% of men, and while it's entirely harmless, it's a significant source of self-consciousness for many patients. People with a gummy smile often describe feeling reluctant to smile fully, covering their mouth in photos, or feeling their teeth are disproportionately small.

The condition is entirely treatable — quickly, non-surgically, and affordably — and results can be transformative for patients who've been self-conscious about their smile for years.

What causes a gummy smile?

Overactive upper lip muscles — the most common cause. The levator labii superioris muscle, which raises the upper lip when you smile, is hyperactive in patients with a gummy smile — it lifts the lip higher than typical, exposing more gum. This is the cause that anti-wrinkle injection treatment addresses directly.

Excessive gum tissue — in some patients, the gum tissue itself is more prominent relative to the teeth, regardless of lip movement. This requires a different treatment approach (gum contouring by a dentist or periodontist) and is not something anti-wrinkle injections address.

Jaw structure — vertical maxillary excess, where the upper jaw is positioned lower than typical, can cause significant gum display. This is a structural issue that typically requires orthognathic surgery for full correction.

Short upper lip — a naturally shorter upper lip exposes more gum when smiling. Anti-wrinkle injections can help by limiting how much the lip lifts, compensating for the shorter lip length.

At Sisu Clinic, every patient has a thorough consultation before treatment to confirm whether anti-wrinkle injections are the appropriate solution for their specific gummy smile — because the right treatment depends entirely on the cause.

How does anti-wrinkle treatment fix a gummy smile?

Anti-wrinkle injections are placed precisely into the levator labii superioris muscle — the muscle responsible for lifting the upper lip when you smile. A small, carefully dosed injection temporarily relaxes this muscle, limiting how high the lip can lift. The result: when you smile, less gum is exposed because the lip doesn't travel as far upward.

The treatment is highly specific to anatomy. The injection point, depth, and dose all vary based on your individual muscle anatomy and the degree of gum exposure. This is why an experienced, medically trained doctor is essential — the same injection placed slightly incorrectly can affect the lip flip or smile asymmetry rather than just the gum exposure.

At Sisu Clinic, every gummy smile treatment is performed by a doctor following a full anatomical assessment.

Gummy smile treatment before and after — what to expect

Before treatment: Patients typically present with 3 to 8mm of gum visible above the upper teeth when smiling fully. They often describe feeling self-conscious about smiling in photos or avoiding open-mouthed smiling in social situations.

Immediately after treatment: The injection itself takes 2 to 3 minutes. There is no immediate visible change — anti-wrinkle injections take time to take effect. You leave the clinic looking exactly as you arrived.

Days 3 to 5: The muscle begins to relax and the first subtle effect becomes visible. When you smile, your upper lip doesn't travel quite as far upward.

Day 7 to 14: Full effect is visible. When you smile, the amount of visible gum has reduced meaningfully. For most patients this is the moment they first see their smile the way they've always wanted it to look.

Months 3 to 4: The treatment wears off naturally as the muscle gradually regains its full activity. A top-up treatment at this point maintains the result.

The most common patient description of the result: "I can smile properly in photos for the first time." The change is subtle to an observer — you simply smile more naturally — but the impact on confidence is often significant.

How long does gummy smile treatment last?

Results typically last 3 to 4 months. This is shorter than other anti-wrinkle treatments because the levator labii superioris is an active muscle with frequent, strong movement during everyday speaking and smiling. With regular treatment, many patients find the muscle softens over time and results begin to last slightly longer.

What does gummy smile treatment cost in Ireland?

Gummy smile treatment at Sisu Clinic Ireland is priced at €170, with a free consultation included. This makes it one of the most affordable anti-wrinkle treatments available — and one of the most impactful in terms of the confidence change it delivers per euro spent.

If your gummy smile has been affecting your confidence and you'd like to understand whether treatment is right for you, book a free consultation at your nearest Sisu Clinic. Your doctor will assess your smile anatomy and give you an honest view of what treatment can achieve.