Fixing a Gummy Smile With Braces and TADs: A Modern Orthodontic Solution
A beautiful smile involves more than straight teeth. Your gums also play a major role in how your smile looks. When too much gum shows when you smile (known as a gummy smile), it can affect confidence even if your teeth are perfectly aligned. The good news? Modern orthodontics offers highly effective, minimally invasive ways to correct a gummy smile using braces and Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs).
If you’ve been told you have a gummy smile or you’re researching treatment options, this guide explains how braces and TADs work together to create a more balanced, attractive smile.
What Is a Gummy Smile?
A gummy smile occurs when more than 3 millimeters of gum tissue is visible when smiling. Common causes include:
- Overactive upper lip muscles (lip raises too high)
- Short upper lip
- Erupted teeth that appear short
- Gum overgrowth
- Improper bite or overbite
Identifying the cause is essential for choosing the right treatment, and braces combined with TADs are one of the most powerful solutions for skeletal or bite-related gummy smiles.
What Are TADs?
TADs (Temporary Anchorage Devices) are very small screws placed in the gum or jawbone to provide a stable anchor point during orthodontic treatment.
They allow orthodontists to move teeth or even entire segments of the upper jaw in ways that braces alone cannot. TADs are:
- Minimally invasive
- Very small (about the size of a mini earring stud)
- Comfortable and easy to maintain
- Removed once treatment is complete
TADs make targeted vertical correction possible without surgery in many cases, especially for gummy smiles caused by excess upper tooth or jaw height.
How Braces and TADs Fix a Gummy Smile
Braces align the teeth, while TADs allow precise control over tooth and jaw movement. When combined, they can intrude (move upward) the upper front teeth and sometimes the entire upper arch, reducing gum display.
Here’s how treatment typically works:
1. Diagnosis and Planning
Using digital scans, photos, and X-rays, the orthodontist identifies whether the gummy smile is caused by tooth position, jaw growth, or both.
2. Placement of Braces
Braces guide the teeth into the correct alignment while preparing them for vertical adjustment.
3. TAD Placement
TADs are placed in specific areas of the gum tissue. This is quick and done under topical or local anesthesia. It is usually painless, and patients can go back to work and school the same day.
4. Connect Tads to Braces
Elastic chains or wires connect the TADs to the braces, applying gentle force. This gradually moves the upper teeth upward into the bone, reducing how much gum shows when you smile.
Why Fixing a Gummy Smile With TADs Works So Well
- Non-surgical alternative to jaw surgery in many cases
- Fast and predictable results
- Much lower cost than surgical procedure which involves the hospital.
- Improves smile aesthetics and facial balance
- Can correct overbites at the same time
- Little to no recovery time
For many patients, this approach is far less invasive than orthognathic surgery while still producing dramatic improvements.
What Results Can You Expect?
After treatment, you can expect:
- Less gum showing when you smile
- More proportional teeth
- Better bite and facial balance
- A more attractive, confident smile
Many patients see noticeable changes within months, with full aesthetic results by the end of treatment.
Is It Painful?
Most patients report:
- Mild pressure when TADs are placed
- Temporary soreness during the first few days of intrusion
- Little to no long-term discomfort
TADs are often easier than patients expect, and they’re removed just as easily.
Your Best Smile Starts With the Right Plan
A gummy smile can make you feel self-conscious, but it doesn’t have to. Using braces and TADs, orthodontists can create a balanced, beautiful smile without the need for invasive jaw surgery.
If you’re interested in correcting a gummy smile or want to know whether TADs are right for you, our orthodontic team is here to help.
Contact The Brace Place Orthodontics today to schedule your smile evaluation and explore your personalized treatment options.
With convenient locations in Grand Prairie at 2630 S. Carrier Parkway, Suite A, Grand Prairie, TX 75052 (Phone: (972) 660-5522) and in Irving at 3219 N MacArthur Blvd, Suite 120, Irving, TX 75062 (Phone: (972) 255-0544), achieving the perfectly proportioned smile of your dreams has never been easier.