Here are the most common causes for Daniel's condition: (None of which involve poor hygiene, they just involve expensive treatment.)
"Excess gum tissue can create the appearance of short teeth and a "gummy" smile—and make your oral health more difficult to manage. A periodontist, or gum specialist, can remove excess gum tissue to give your mouth a new look. A number of factors can cause "gumminess":
· Inadequate Normal Gum Recession or Altered Passive Eruption: As the teeth erupt (grow out of the gums), the gums recede upwards—most of the time. In some cases, the gums remain and cover part of the teeth, making normal-sized teeth look short.
· Irritation from Braces: If a patient has excessive gum tissue at the time of orthodontic treatment, the gums can become irritated by the braces, in spite of proper oral care.
· Mouth Breathing: Nasal or adenoid problems can lead a patient to breathe through the mouth, especially at night. This habit dries out the gum tissue, leaving it susceptible to disease and overgrowth.
· Medication: Medicine such as Diclatin and Cyclosporine can lead to gum tissue overgrowth.
· High Lip Lines: The shape of the patient's mouth can sometimes bare more of the gum tissue than is visible in the average person's mouth.
Gummy smiles can also be caused by attrition, a condition where the teeth have been severely worn down. This case is one where the teeth seriously are too short. Bad habits such as nighttime teeth grinding can cause this wear. This problem can be corrected by tooth lengthening surgery, topped off with caps or crowns to cover the newly lengthened teeth."
The info came from dentalfind.com. I think had Daniel had poor hygiene it would have been difficult for Price to have become quite as involved as he did. They seemed like nice guys who made a connection. It will be nice to see them carry forward another step.
"Excess gum tissue can create the appearance of short teeth and a "gummy" smile—and make your oral health more difficult to manage. A periodontist, or gum specialist, can remove excess gum tissue to give your mouth a new look. A number of factors can cause "gumminess":
· Inadequate Normal Gum Recession or Altered Passive Eruption: As the teeth erupt (grow out of the gums), the gums recede upwards—most of the time. In some cases, the gums remain and cover part of the teeth, making normal-sized teeth look short.
· Irritation from Braces: If a patient has excessive gum tissue at the time of orthodontic treatment, the gums can become irritated by the braces, in spite of proper oral care.
· Mouth Breathing: Nasal or adenoid problems can lead a patient to breathe through the mouth, especially at night. This habit dries out the gum tissue, leaving it susceptible to disease and overgrowth.
· Medication: Medicine such as Diclatin and Cyclosporine can lead to gum tissue overgrowth.
· High Lip Lines: The shape of the patient's mouth can sometimes bare more of the gum tissue than is visible in the average person's mouth.
Gummy smiles can also be caused by attrition, a condition where the teeth have been severely worn down. This case is one where the teeth seriously are too short. Bad habits such as nighttime teeth grinding can cause this wear. This problem can be corrected by tooth lengthening surgery, topped off with caps or crowns to cover the newly lengthened teeth."
The info came from dentalfind.com. I think had Daniel had poor hygiene it would have been difficult for Price to have become quite as involved as he did. They seemed like nice guys who made a connection. It will be nice to see them carry forward another step.