What does “Lip line” mean?
The lip line is the border and position formed by the lips at rest, when smiling, and when speaking. It helps describe how much of the teeth and gums is visible.
Assess the lips in motion
The position of your lips is different when you are relaxed, when you smile broadly, and when you speak. It is difficult to judge your entire smile based on just how much gums or few teeth are visible in a single photo.
The movement of the upper and lower lips, the difference between the left and right sides, and the length and position of the teeth together affect the appearance. In counseling, data with natural facial expressions is helpful.
Why it is connected to tooth design
Changing front tooth length can affect how much tooth is visible beyond the lips, speech, and how the lips close. Even for veneers, the teeth are assessed in relation to the lips rather than viewed only in isolation.
If lip movement or jaw bone relationships are the primary cause, dental restoration alone may not be enough to make the changes you want. It is important to separately explain which structure the problem is.
Distinguished from smile line
The lip line is centered on the border and exposure aspect of the lips. When explaining the relationship between the curve at the tip of the front teeth and the lower lip, the expression smile line or smile arc may be used, so check the consultation context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need treatment if I have a high lip line?
Excessive gum showing when smiling is not always a sign of a disease. We provide consultation by distinguishing between functional issues, changes desired, and related causes.
Can you judge lip lines based on a photo of a person smiling?
The range of visible teeth and gums may be different when smiling lightly, smiling broadly, or speaking. It is helpful to check several facial expressions and movements together.
If I change the length of my front teeth, will my lip line change?
Although the appearance of the teeth may change, tooth restoration alone does not change the movement of the lips or the condition of the jawbone. Divide and judge the elements you want to change.
3 things to check before lip line consultation
Please review the questions to ask before deciding on treatment and the treatment standards of TU Dental Clinic.
- A choice suited to your condition
Does the clinic check the range of natural facial expressions and lip movements?
TU Dental Clinic’s treatment standardsTU Dental Clinic uses an intraoral preview to assess length, proportions, volume, and harmony with the face and lips. Color and bite are checked again at the final try-in.
What to check in simulation, smile preview, and try-in - Sufficient understanding
Does the clinic explain the distinctions between tooth length, gum display, and lip movement?
TU Dental Clinic’s treatment standardsTU Dental Clinic explains the different roles of the screen design, temporary preview, and final try-in. It also explains that temporary materials do not exactly reproduce the translucency and texture of the final ceramic.
What to check in simulation, smile preview, and try-in - Preservation of natural teeth
Does the clinic review the minimum scope of treatment required for the desired change?
TU Dental Clinic’s treatment standardsTU Dental Clinic examines the remaining tooth tissue and determines the scope of treatment by distinguishing between functionally necessary treatment and aesthetic adjustments.
TU’s natural tooth preservation treatment philosophy
Further reading and references
Further reading
References
- Principles of smile designpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (opens in a new tab)
- Digital Smile Design — An innovative tool in aesthetic dentistrypubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (opens in a new tab)
- Mathematical tooth proportions — systematic reviewpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (opens in a new tab)
- Diagnosis and Treatment Approaches to a Gummy Smilepubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (opens in a new tab)
