Will A Buccinator Myectomy Give Me A Wider Smile?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I was just thinking about the role of the buccinator muscle with smiling. When I smile it typically has 12 teeth show, but i notice that there is something inside the cheek that pushes against my 2nd molar preventing a 14 tooth smile, apparently this is the buccinator muscle I think. I was curious if a buccinator mucosal myectomy would actually result in a 14 tooth smile or if theres simply too much muscle contracting to make a difference with the surgery. Thanks a lot for reading my question.

A:I don’t think it would make any difference as the smile is a horizontal movement while a buccinator muscle resection removes it horizontally not vertically… which is what would be needed to debulk it enough to allow more horizontal movement if possible.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon